Theatre and Dance

The Royal Shakespeare Company, in association with the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town, is bringing its production of Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest, to the Grand Theatre.

Taking to the road after opening in Cape Town, South Africa at the Baxter Theatre Centre earlier this year, this unique production is filled with African ritual, music and dance.

Featuring a totally South African cast, the production is created by three of South Africa’s foremost theatrical talents. Director Janice Honeyman will have the luxury of two of the country's most celebrated actors onstage together for the first time, Antony Sher as Prospero and John Kani as Caliban.

Knighted for his services for acting and writing, and an RSC Associate Artist, Antony Sher first worked for the RSC in 1982. His many roles for the company have included his award-winning performance in Richard III as well as the title roles in Tamburlaine, Cyrano de Bergerac and Macbeth. He played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Iago in Othello. 

In 2005 he directed Fraser Grace’s play Breakfast with Mugabe for the RSC. His own play, The Giant was recently premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London. His film credits include playing Benjamin Disraeli in Mrs Brown and Shakespeare In Love. 

Antony Sher said: "Janice and I have been discussing this production for several years and I'm thrilled that the RSC is now making it happen, along with the Baxter, which is the leading theatre in Cape Town (my birthplace) and arguably in the whole of South Africa. In Shakespeare’s time, witchcraft and magic were part of society, but this is no longer true in the modern world, except in certain places. Our plan is to use African ritual to release the magic in the play. It’s also been a lifelong ambition of mine to be onstage with the legendary South African actor John Kani. So this feels like all my dreams coming true."

Baxter Theatre Centre's production of The Tempest plays at the Grand Theatre from Tuesday 31 March until Saturday 4 April 2009.

As part of the visit to Leeds there will also be a Young People's Shakespeare Workshop and Performance on Wednesday 1 April 2009 at 3.30pm. Director Janice Honeyman will work with members of The Tempest company to create a condensed version of the play which is presented with a pre-performance workshop where the audience will help bring Prospero's island to life. A perfect introduction to Shakespeare for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils, or for family audiences.