Magic, revenge and romance will take centre stage this summer as Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society (RADS) presents William Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the Georgian Theatre Royal.
The production runs over two weekends, from Thursday, July 23 to Saturday, July 25 and Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1, bringing one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays to the historic Richmond venue.
Set on a mysterious island, The Tempest follows the exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, who uses magic to summon a storm that wrecks the ship carrying his treacherous brother Antonio and the King of Naples. As the survivors struggle to make sense of their strange surroundings, Prospero plots revenge while orchestrating a romance between his daughter Miranda and Prince Ferdinand.
Alongside the central story, audiences can expect comedy, intrigue and plenty of magical mischief as a drunken servant, a court jester and the island’s native inhabitant attempt to overthrow Prospero.
Director Beki Stevenson said she had long dreamed of directing the play.
“I’m thrilled to be directing The Tempest. It’s a Shakespeare play I’ve loved since being involved in a 30-minute adaptation when I was 15,” she said.
“The themes of betrayal, revenge – and of course a bit of romance – are timeless and still resonate with audiences today. Performing this show in the Georgian Theatre Royal allows us to create an immersive world through technical aspects that really bring the production to life in an incredibly intimate setting.”
RADS stages three productions each year and is always looking to welcome new members, both on stage and behind the scenes. The group also holds monthly club nights on the second Monday of each month at 6-8 Castle Hill, Richmond, which are open to members and non-members alike.
Tickets for The Tempest are available from the Georgian Theatre Royal box office on 01748 825252 or via the theatre’s website.
