Casting has been announced for Tempest, the highly anticipated new production from Wildcard Theatre, which will play at The Pleasance from 11 March-3 April.

Applying their gig-theatre style to Shakespeare’s final play, Wildcard heightens the narrative with incredible live music and breath-taking design to question what it means to be human. Directed and adapted by James Meteyard, with original music by BBC Young Composer of the Year Jasmine Morris, this is Shakespeare like you have never experienced it before.

The cast of talented actor-musicians includes Loren O’Dair as Ariel, Tashinga Bepete as Ferdinand, Ben Simon as Sebastian, Ruby Crepin-Glynne as Miranda, Gigi Zahir as Trinculo and Antonio, Alexander Bean as Caliban, Eleanor House as Stephano, Rob Meteyard as Gonzalo, and Kate Littlewood as Prospero.

Wildcard’s notorious gig-theatre style has achieved critical acclaim. This adrenaline-fuelled reimagining, entirely underscored by live music with newly composed songs alongside Shakespearean originals, brings a fresh perspective to a timeless classic. Tempest is performed by nine actor-musicians, with a detailed sound design that immerses the audience in a rich audio world. The exhilarating fusion of live music and theatre serves to make productions more accessible and attracts a demographic of audience that has low engagement with the arts. Accessibility is at the heart of the piece – this is a show that truly speaks to a modern, younger and more diverse audience, who may not think that Shakespeare is usually for them.

Banished to a mystical island with nothing but their magical books, Prospero waits in isolation for twelve long years. Consumed by a desire for revenge, they forge a new life with their daughter Miranda, slave Caliban and servant-spirit Ariel. Using Ariel, and all his qualities, Prospero conducts a terrible storm to shipwreck their enemies, stranding them in Prospero’s new kingdom. Divided, lost and confused, the group find themselves at the mercy of twisted vengeance. But will Prospero’s bitterness destroy them, or will humanity prevail?

This visually striking production features bold and vibrant set, costume and lighting design to accentuate the themes and questions within the text – with special effects to create a unique, visceral experience and explore the characters’ heightened world of high fashion. The audience are therefore taken to some of the darker and more uncomfortable moments in the play, in order to draw parallels with our own world. Ultimately, this is a play about humanity vs society. It is about the age-old structures that we have fabricated in our society to create imbalance, and how these take us away from what is at the core of our humanity: love, compassion and care.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.