The Winter's Tale

Eve Best, Danny Sapani and Shaun Dooley star in this modern, riveting and magical production of The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare The Winter's Tale treads new dramatic ground embracing tragedy, poetry, folklore, magic realism, music, comedy and the infamous stage direction " exit pursued by a bear". One of Shakespeare's mesmerising later productions, often considered a ' problem play' as it starts with a tragedy and ends in a romance The story starts with the consuming jealousy of King Leontes of Sicilia towards his wife Hermione and his childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia. Believing they are lovers and the child she is carrying is illegitimate, Leontes begins a destructive path: the breaking of his marriage and the abandonment of his child What seems hopeless, tragic and irreconcilable changes in Act 2 where jealousy and actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his court and family. The baby, Perdita, is raised by a shepherd, unaware of her royal heritage. It seems she will never discover the truth of her birth, but when Prince Florizel sees her and falls in love, it seems fate has other ideas.... This production brings together a star cast and includes an original folk music score by award-winning musicians Lisa Knapp and Tim Van Eyken Production Credits Written by William Shakespeare Music composed by Tim Van Eyken and singer Lisa Knapp Director: David Hunter First Broadcast BBC Radio 3 on the 1st May 2016 as part of The Shakespeare Sessions series Cast List Leontes ... Danny Sapani Hermione ... Eve Best Polixenes ... Shaun Dooley Camillo... Karl Johnson Paulina... Susan Jameson Shepherd... Paul Copley Perdita... Faye Castelow Autolycus... Tim Van Eyken Florizel... Will Howard Mamillius... Charlie Brand Archidamus... Sean Baker Antigonus... Brian Protheroe Clown... Sam Rix Emilia... Scarlett Brookes Cleomenes... Richard Pepple Dion... Nick Underwood First Lady... Adie Allen Mopsa... Nicola Ferguson First Lord.. James Lailey Mariner... Sargon Yelda Officer... Ewan Bailey