Der Sturm (The Tempest)

Powerful waves surge onto the shores of the remote island – an unexpected refuge in the middle of the ocean. Following a mighty storm at sea, Antonio, Duke of Milan, and Alonso, King of Naples, and their followers reach dry land. Twelve years previously, another Duke of Milan found sanctuary on these shores. But that Duke’s name was Prospero, and he was the brother of the current incumbent. He had been deviously overthrown and banished from his homeland with his daughter. Since then, the former ruler of Milan has been ruling this peculiar island, also thanks to his magical powers. His court consists only of his own child, Caliban the slave and Ariel the air spirit.

Time has passed in exile, when an opportunity for revenge suddenly offers itself: A lucky circumstance leads the conspirators’ route near the island. With Ariel’s help, Prospero conjures up a tempest that washes the travellers up at his feet. Now the time has come to reshuffle the pack. The shipwrecked men are separated and make their way across the island. While the former Duke uses all of his magic tricks to find redress, the lines of force and subjugation run not only along the intrigue between the brothers. Prospero’s own power over the island is not based on legal rule either. Ariel is deeply indebted to him and purchases a little bit of freedom with every act of service. And Caliban’s fealty arises from sheer oppression, even if Prospero believes him to be obliged to gratitude for the language he has given him. Or rather, enforced on him. So it is not surprising that resistance against this status quo arises from several sides, as does the impulse to reconsider who exactly is entitled to what here.

In his final play “The Tempest”, William Shakespeare used testimonials from the major shipwreck of the Sea Venture near the Bermudas in 1609. In this setting, he tells the story of the banished Duke of Milan and his way back to the throne. Prospero’s efforts towards revenge, justice and rehabilitation are of varied moral substance, depending on whose standpoint we regard them from. Thus, the play addresses the emergence of colonialism and globalisation as well as connected issues of civilisation and nature, of justice and legitimate rule.

All these are issues, that director Adewale Teodros Adebisi will pursue. He is a freelance director and has also been teaching acting at the Folkwang University of the Arts since 2008 and working as a member of the film department at FH Dortmund since 2015. He has created productions for theatres including Theater Neuss, Theater Heilbronn, Schauspielhaus Bochum and Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar. Following “Die Bridgetower-Sonate”, “Der Sturm (The Tempest)” is his second production at Schauspiel Leipzig.