The Tempest at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Heavily billed and marketed as Sigourney Weaver’s West End debut, the Jamie Lloyd Company’s production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, now showing at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is entirely vivified by the much-decorated Hollywood icon. As Prospero – become woman, in a pleasing symmetry to male actors’ insisted-upon performances of female roles during the Bard’s time – Weaver commands the stage from her ever-present position upon it.

Not necessarily to the taste of the RSC purist, this is bombastic, visceral, big-budget Shakespeare; a generally well-considered balance of faithful homage to the Bard’s writings and taking advantage of opportunities presented by contemporary vision and theatre technology. The land inhabited by the company, or on which they find themselves marooned – brought about through stark, uncomplex scenery and lighting – has a haunting monochromatic science fiction quality to it. This, paired with the characters’ usually steady choreography of movement, proves effective and enchanting. There is often a character lurking in the misty middle distance, listening in; an uneasy but fitting addition to the scenery. The use of sound, employed steadily throughout and consisting of a curious synth-choral fusion (including Ariel bursting into linear, meandering song now and then) enhances this sentiment, though occasionally siphons clarity from the script.

Ariel, brought to life by Mason Alexander Park, is splendid. The comic roles, Stephano and Trinculo – often challenging to incorporate – are a touch jarring at first, but undoubtedly well performed by Jason Barnett and Mathew Horne respectively, tying in soundly with a truly grotesque Caliban (Forbes Masson). This is a fulsome and well-represented company, who rise to the telling of this tale of loss, grievous plotting and unlikely redemption with a great deal of prowess.

Will Snell
Photos: Marc Brenner

The Tempest is at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 1^st February 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.