Review: The Tempest by Clumber Players

It was a treat to spend an evening watching Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest (directed by Clumber’s David Denwood) in such surroundings. The play begins with a storm - cleverly done with the use of light, sound and the jolting movements of those aboard a ship about to sink.

As the story unfolded we were introduced to the main character, Prospero and his daughter Miranda played by Mike Tomlinson and Amy Wiles. Amy, a professional actress, radiated stage presence and she was in good company as Mike gave a really strong performance as the deposed Duke of Milan - a part he played with sensitivity and an obvious love of the language.

Prospero’s partner in revenge was the magical sprite Ariel, played by Susan Wiles, who was in top form. Although not a professional, she oozes professionalism. Her wonderful diction and balletic poses and movements made her performance really special.

Aeddan Lockett is an established member of the players and a confident actor. He played Miranda’s love, Ferdinand. And Aeddan’s father, Bob, was Caliban, the grovelling inhabitant of the small island, a role to which he applied much skill. David Lintin as Stephano and Angela Williams as Trinculo made a delightfully drunken pair.

Steve Rowan, Peter Hewkin and Heather Carroll played Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio (the plotters who banished Prospero to the island) and Les Blackshaw played a memorable Gonzalo.

The rest of the cast provided us with glamour and grace (Trudi Jackson, Caroline Penn and Ina Clarke) and talent and enthusiasm (Antony Hopkinson, Jonathan Paulger, Aimee Mellors, Molly Booth, Fiona Kirk, Lucy Booth, Olivia Cooper and Jessica Carroll).

This production highlighted the skills of the actors and hopefully, one of many to come at Thoresby.

By Wendy Fidoe