The Tempest: A Semi-Opera

Step into an extraordinary reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, where music, theatre, and landscape collide.

In a bold new production from Vache Baroque, created in collaboration with theatre company Out of Chaos – praised by The Guardian for its 'limitless invention and electric storytelling' – this year’s Flagship Production promises something truly unforgettable.

Set beneath a striking big-top tent, with sweeping views across a shimmering lake and enchanted woodland, the performance unfolds in a space where nature becomes part of the drama and set. Shakespeare’s language is interwoven with the richness of 17th-century music and enhanced by immersive live electronics, creating a vivid, multi-sensory experience.

Much of the music included in this production was originally composed by Henry Purcell, Matthew Locke, Pelham Humfrey, and others for a late-17th-century version of The Tempest. Numerous pieces by other European composers of the period will also feature, as well as shanties, improvisations, and a full masque by Purcell.

Cast:
Stephanie Hershaw
Isabelle Peters
Camilla Seale
Conor Prendiville
Ross Cumming
Out of Chaos actors
The Vache Baroque Band

Creative Team:
Director Paul O’Mahony
Music Director Jonathan Darbourne
Designer Caitlin Mawhinney
Choreographer Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster
Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
Sound Artist Dan Samsa
Sound Design Dom Harter (Martin Audio)
Stage Manager Beri Valentine