Theatre Experience - The Tempest

My experience of watching a live theatre performance on stage with my schoolmates and English teachers was a memorable one, mainly because it was my first time. The meticulous atmosphere of the theatre shifted into a place where our emotions came to play, a place where the transient life of the human soul came to sing, dance and reminded me of the joy existing in a creative life welcoming plenty. It brought a new light to Shakespeare's 1611 play "The Tempest" by introducing reconstructed scenes that fit the comedic interests of a modern audience while retaining the essence of what is expected in a tragic Shakespearean play. For instance, I truly enjoyed Stephano's drunken state and bizarre character that prompted him to drink hand sanitiser at first but shivered in Ariel's menacing persona in the end. I also appreciated how some male roles were played by female performers, along with the coordination of sound, lights, music, dialogue and costumes that made me think as though I was on a magical island.

Moreover, I was overwhelmed with how the entire theatre production was done unrecorded. In filmmaking, a scene can hold countless takes which are stirred with precise effects and editorial functions. But in theatre, there is no time for second takes; everything has to be flawless. From the swinging of an ethereal hanging lamp to the entrance and exit of performers who made uninterrupted movements- I was in absolute awe with how every little detail was perfected. Thankfully, we stayed to watch the "The Tempest" symposium that explained how the theatre production was accomplished and introduced new theatrical techniques that further ignited our ideas about Shakespeare's play and its contextual influences. It helped me better understand Prospero's poisonous agony and the extent to which one will take back what is his. I was initially uninterested in theatres and preferred to buy a film online to watch on a Friday morning. However, it was both an enchanting and fascinating experience that gifted me an opportunity to connect with characters that mirror resonating human experiences that shape our world today.

Francheska Holgate
Year 12