Congratulations to the cast and crew of St George’s International School on their wonderful production of The Tempest at South Hill Park Arts Centre.

This was an accomplished and original production, and I’d like to highlight a few key elements which really stood out for me.

•  Your resetting of the play was an interesting and original twist! Changing the traditional shipwreck to a terrifying plane crash immediately grabbed the audience’s attention.
•  You worked wonderfully as a collaborative ensemble especially creating the structure of Caliban’s cave using your bodies.
•  The cast clearly understood and conveyed the comedic elements of this play, particularly when Trinculo and Stephano met Caliban in the ‘man or fish’ scene.
•  The movement sequence performed by the spirits as they lulled the Dukes into a false sense of security was moving and beautifully staged.

I’d also like to commend the cast on the strength of your storytelling as we reached the denouement which hugely impressed me. The text was spoken with ease as all the characters were united on stage in a happy conclusion.
This production was slick, atmospheric and magical. Huge congratulations to all the cast and crew who made it happen.
I hope to see St George’s International School in the Festival again next year.
By Kate Hughes (Shakespeare Schools Festival Venue Director)