Almeida cooks up a storm

Putting on The Tempest is tied up with our move out of the Almeida while it's being rebuilt.

We're transforming the Almerida and The Tempest is a transformational play.

The start of building work is a great opoprtunity for us to take out the stage, put in a large water tank and bring Ariel in through the roof. This will enable us to give the play extra theatrical magic. It's not quite for me to say, but it will look beautiful and extraordinary. Propero's island will be a deconstructed Almeida but, like the play, full of surprises.

Prospero himself is a strange person. He's not Father Christmas. He is very hidden in a way, and Shakespeare doesn't entirely uncover him for the audience. The arc of the play is a journey from anger to forgiveness, but this is a very complicated journey. Prospero is anxious to avenge himself on the people who did badly by him in the past, but at the same time he has to prepare a future for his daughter.Two things slightly pulling in different directions.

After he has managed to forgive, it is by no means clear whether this forgiveness has worked or anyone is deeply changed or altered, least of all him.

Having Aiden Gillen play Ariel is very exciting. It will also be particularly challenging for him because in this production he will fly and sing, appear from nowhere and vanish.