The Tempest Synopsis
Wednesday 19 August 2026
King Alonso of Naples, together with his retinue, is returning by sea from Tunis after his daughter’s wedding when a storm hits…
On a nearby deserted island lives the young Miranda, who is alarmed by the raging sea, but her father Prospero calms her: the storm is only an illusion created by his magic. Prospero tells his daughter that 12 years ago he was the Duke of Milan, but his own brother Antonio, with the help of King Alonso of Naples, deprived him of power and exiled him. They survived only thanks to the mercy of a courtier, Gonzalo, who provided them with food, water, and Prospero’s prized magic books. By chance, the ship did not sink but reached the deserted island. Learning that his enemies were passing nearby, Prospero decides fate itself has delivered them into his hands.
Elsewhere on the island, King Alonso’s trusted councillor Gonzalo attempts to be optimistic about their situation. Alonso’s brother Sebastian and Prospero’s usurping brother Antonio are also with them.
After causing Miranda to sleep, Prospero summons Ariel, a spirit, who reports on the events of the shipwreck. Long ago, Prospero freed Ariel from a pine tree where the witch Sycorax had imprisoned her. Since then Ariel has served Prospero, all the while longing for freedom. Prospero promises to free Ariel if he helps take revenge.
Back again with the shipwrecked courtiers, Gonzalo continues his effort to cheer the king and make the best of a bad situation.
After awakening Miranda, Prospero summons another inhabitant of the island, Caliban, Sycorax’s son. When Prospero first arrived on the island, he tried to educate him, but Caliban betrayed Prospero’s trust by attempting to violate Miranda. Now he is enslaved and forced to work for him. Caliban considers himself the rightful owner of the island.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island, Ferdinand, the King of Naples’ son, grieves for his father, thinking himself the sole survivor. Ariel invisibly observes him and (with the help of other spirits) enchants him with magical music.
Prospero arranges for Miranda and Ferdinand to meet. Having never seen a man before, Miranda falls in love at first sight. Ferdinand, struck by her beauty and purity, falls in love as well. Believing their love must be tested, Prospero separates them.
Exhausted, King Alonso and Gonzalo fall asleep and the treacherous Antonio takes the opportunity to persuade Alonso’s brother Sebastian to kill the king and seize the throne. Antonio openly admits he once did the same to Prospero and feels no remorse. Sebastian quickly agrees, but Ariel intervenes, waking Gonzalo in time to save the king. They continue their hopeful search for Ferdinand.
Caliban, taking shelter from the returning storm, encounters two other courtly survivors: the butler Stephano and the jester Trinculo. Both are drunk on wine salvaged from a barrel and initially mistake Caliban for a monster. After tasting their ‘celestial liquor’, Caliban decides Stephano is a god and vows to serve him. They go off together singing and in good spirits.
Ferdinand is being made to perform hard labour by Prospero in order to earn Miranda’s hand. Miranda arrives and, unaware that Prospero is watching, the two confess their love, pledge fidelity, and exchange marriage vows. Aside, Prospero blesses their union.
INTERVAL
With Caliban offering his help, Stephano and Trinculo plot to kill Prospero and take control of the island. They celebrate their plan with singing.
A hopeless King Alonso and the other courtiers hear strange music and receive a banquet from island spirits. Ariel then appears in the form of a harpy and declares to the ‘three men of sin’ (Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian) that they are trapped on the island for their past crimes.
Prospero grants to Ferdinand his daughter’s hand in marriage and asks Ariel to arrange a performance to celebrate. A masque commences, recounting a tug of war between Cupid (love) and Bacchus (wine).
Prospero remembers the Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo’s plot against him and lures them to him. When they arrive, they are chased away by spirits in the form of hounds.
Ariel brings Alonso and the courtiers to Prospero as the last act of her servitude. Prospero reveals himself to the assembled company and forgives them. Alonso repents and promises to restore Prospero’s dukedom. Believing his son was dead, he sees Ferdinand with Miranda.
Ariel brings in Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo and Prospero pardons them. All prepare to sail to Naples for the wedding of Miranda and Ferdinand, with Caliban remaining alone on the island. As a final act, Prospero renounces his magic and sets Ariel free.
Caliban persuades Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero and take the island, but Ariel distracts them with fine clothes and they abandon their plan. The spirits, transformed into hounds, chase them away.
Ariel appears to Alonso, Antonio, and the courtiers in the form of a harpy and declares that they are trapped on the island for their past crimes:
Prospero lifts their madness, reveals himself, and forgives them. Alonso repents and promises to restore Prospero’s dukedom. Believing his son was dead, he is overwhelmed to find out Ferdinand is still alive, and Alonso weeps with joy. The ships are safe in the harbor. All prepare to sail to Naples for the wedding of Miranda and Ferdinand. Caliban remains alone on the island.
Prospero renounces magic, breaks his staff, drowns his books, and frees Ariel. He becomes an ordinary man:
Step onto the island with us and discover its magic anew…
Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a semi-opera
Saturday 29 August, Sunday 30 August, Saturday 5 September, Sunday 6 September 2026
Or join us for SPLASH! an adapted, shortened and relaxed version of the show, MC’d for accessibility with BSL interpretation, and taking place morning of Sunday 6 September