CASTING cross gender for its centrepiece production of The Tempest is a bold – and ‘on trend’ move by organisers of the Petersfield Shakespeare Festival.
Actor Karen Ascoe will play the role of Prospera in what promises to be a vibrant and magical version of the Bard’s last play, set on the tropical island of Bermuda.
This comes in a year which sees Glenda Jackson return to the London stage as King Lear, and Michelle Terry take on the title role of Henry V at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Festival co-producer Clare Glancy enthused: “We are very much on trend by casting a female actor to play Prospera, and there are currently numerous pieces being written and broadcast about cross gender casting.”
The Tempest will run from July 14 to 18, and from 22 to 24, at 7.45pm, and on July 23, at 6pm, at the festival in the grounds of Bedales School.
Karen trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she won the Carleton Hobbs Award. At the age of 22 she found herself playing Miranda in The Tempest for BBC Radio, with Sir John Gielgud as Prospero.
Other newcomers to the 2016 festival include Rosie Spivey as an Ab Fab-inspired Trinculo, Robert Dennett as the usurper Antonio and Matthew Emeny, who will play the love-struck Ferdinand. Red Davis will take on the role of Caliban.
There will be many familiar faces among The Tempest cast. Ed Taylor-Gooby returns as the drunken butler Stephano, Harriet Benson will play the scheming Sebastian, Freya Hollis is Miranda and Cian Llewellyn will play Ariel.
The Courtyard Bar will be open before performances, serving Tempest cocktails, wines and beers. Take a picnic, or order a pizza from partner pub The Cricketers.
Other festival productions are: Hamlet on July 19, at 7.45pm, presented by The Festival Players; Into the Breach/Henry V on July 20 at 7.45pm, presented by Mark Carey; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream on July 21 at 7.45pm, presented by Illyria.
Book online at www.petersfieldshakespearefestival.co.uk. Tickets from One Tree Books, Petersfield, too.