National Trust Cheshire treasure Little Moreton Hall will host a production by award-winning local amateur company, Alsager Community Theatre (ACT).
ACT stages Shakespeare’s The Tempest in one of the most intimate acting areas in Cheshire, the courtyard of this beautiful Elizabethan Hall.
In The Tempest, the exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, is absolute ruler of an island inhabited by spirits and strange creatures.
Prospero, his daughter Miranda and his faithful spirit Ariel live isolated from human contact until a magically created storm throws upon the shore Prospero’s treacherous brother Antonio, Alonso, King of Naples and various members of both courts.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the evil plots of worldly courtiers are no match for the transformative power of generous magic.
Meanwhile, the broad humour traditional in a Shakespearean comedy is ably provided by two servants of the court who meet Caliban, Prospero’s ‘savage and deformed slave’.
Together they drunkenly plot against his master.
Director Elizabeth Horrocks says The Tempest is one of Shakespeare’s last plays, written when he was at the height of his powers.
She said: ”ACT is fortunate to have attracted a very strong cast of local actors, and in our production we are emphasising the magical and mysterious aspects of the play with music written specially for ACT by local composer Richard Tadman, and with fabulous and fantastical costumes created by ACT’s talented wardrobe mistress, Barbara Malcolm.”
The Tempest will be performed on July 9-11 and July 16-18. Audiences are free to picnic on the lawns at Little Moreton Hall beforehand, and there is a marquee in the event of wet weather.
Tickets are £12 and available on 07562 845756 or by visiting www.alsagercommunitytheatre.org.uk for more information.
