CIRCUS & THE BARD a Tempest Tossed
Created by Allyn Burrows, Robin Eldridge, and Pedro Reis Directed by Allyn Burrows and Pedro Reis
LENOX, MASS. © Shakespeare & Company | 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA 01240 | shakespeare.org
Top to Bottom: Justin Durham and Zoë Isadora, Circus & The Bard: A Tempest Tossed, 2026. Photo by Nile Scott Studios
SENSORY-FRIENDLY SHOW GUIDE
The cast and directors of Circus & The Bard: A Tempest Tossed—Back row: Allyn Burrows, JoJo McDonald, Lydia Isabel Duff, Marcus Kearns, Robin Eldridge, Pedro Reis, Chris Allison, and Rey Hankinson’ Front row: Justin Durham, Seth Ingram, Zoë Isadora, Ariele Ebacher, and Jan “Yahn” Damm
Welcome to the circus! This sensory-friendly performance of Circus & The Bard: A Tempest Tossed is presented by Shakespeare & Company and Spirit of the Circus, and features nine different performers. During the show, you will hear different sound effects and music, see different kinds of lights, and see circus acts such as rope jumping, tight-wire walking, juggling, and other acts. Some performers’ acts are high above the stage. There are no explosions, gunshots, or graphic violence. 2
The Comic Narrator Larry may speak to audience members during the show, but no one is ever required to respond or come onstage. At one point in the show, Larry invites volunteers from the audience to help with a clown routine, and asks some members of the audience to help by calling out for volunteers. Participation is optional, and no one is required to volunteer. The volume of the sound is lower than it would normally be for a show like this, and some of the lights in the theater will remain on during the performance so you are able to move around, enter, and exit as you need.
Comic Narrator Larry
Throughout the show, people in the audience may make noises, such as clapping and cheering. People often clap following tricks performed during the circus acts; you are welcome to to “clap” with fingers waving (ASL claps), and may exit the theater at any time. Circus & The Bard is 65 minutes and has no intermission, but you’re free to leave at any time. This production combines live theater with professional circus arts. Throughout the performance, circus performers demonstrate extraordinary physical skills. Although the show includes moments of danger, suspense, and excitement, everyone on stage has trained extensively for their performance.
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Tina Packer Playhouse
THE THEATER We are going to the theater at Shakespeare & Company to see a show. The theater is called the Tina Packer Playhouse.
Tina Packer Playhouse parking lot (aerial view)
Tina Packer Playhouse entrance (from parking lot)
PARKING We will park the car in the parking lot near the theater, then walk to the theater entrance. 4
The Tina Packer Playhouse lobby
LOBBY The lobby has many windows with views of what’s outside. There is a concessions stand where anyone can buy a drink or a snack. The lobby can be noisy when there are people in it. We will walk into the lobby before we go into the theater where we will see the show.
Buy snacks or drinks at the concessions stand
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THE BOX OFFICE Before we go into the theater, we will pick up our tickets for the show from the Box Office. Everyone needs a ticket to go into the theater to see the show.
The Tina Packer Playhouse Box Office
THE TICKET WINDOW The Box Office is a table with a red curtain behind it. The person at the table will hand us tickets for the show. 6
A patron picks up a ticket at the Tina Packer Playhouse Box Office
Tickets will be scanned using a small handheld machine before entering the Tina Packer Playhouse.
TICKET SCANNERS The theater usher will take our tickets to scan with a small, handheld machine that beeps. After the beeping sound, we may enter the theater.
USHERS The theater usher is a friendly helper. We can ask the theater usher for help at any time. The theater usher can help us find our seats.
Theater ushers will be present throughout the performance to assist patrons at any time.
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Inside the Tina Packer Playhouse theater
The entrance to the theater at the Tina Packer Playhouse
ENTERING THE THEATER When we hear the bell, we will enter the theater. When we enter the theater, we will walk through red canvas walls to get to our seats.
OUR SEATS The seats in the theater are benches. They have letters and numbers on them. Every ticket has a letter and a number. We will match the ticket letter and number to the letter and number on the bench to find our seats. An usher can help us find our seats. This is where we will sit to watch the show. Seating inside the Tina Packer Playhouse
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Theater aisles inside the Tina Packer Playhouse
STAIRS AND AISLES We will walk carefully down a few stairs to get to our seats.
Patrons sitting in the audience enjoying a performance at the Tina Packer Playhouse
SITTING The people who came together can sit together. There may be people we don’t know sitting near us. When we are seated, sometimes people will walk by or in front of us. SHAKESPEARE.ORG
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The Tina Packer Playhouse stage for Circus & The Bard: A Tempest Tossed
THE STAGE The stage includes brightly colored fabric and colored lights. The equipment on stage will change frequently. Actors and circus performers come on stage from backstage and from each side of the stage. Sometimes, an actor will walk in the aisles to and from the stage.
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The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves.
THE START OF THE SHOW The actors will come on stage before the show to introduce themselves. When the show starts, the lights will dim slightly, and it will not get any darker than this. There is always enough light in the aisles if we need to leave.
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ABOUT THE SHOW Larry discovered Shakespeare last summer, and can’t stop quoting him. He loves the circus, loves making people laugh, and wants to discover whether circus and Shakespeare might belong together. Three travelers–The Elizabethans–are Larry’s friends he met last summer. These traveling actors are looking for their next project to sink their teeth into, and soon realize that the project should combine Shakespeare with Circus Arts. Together, all four friends discover The Tempest as their next project. They introduce many of Shakespeare’s characters and ideas about courage, forgiveness, freedom, wonder, and love, with circus arts illustrating each. The Elizabethans also enact a few scenes from The Tempest in between circus performances. Along the way, Larry discovers that circus and Shakespeare have more in common than he ever imagined, and by the end of the performance he realizes that the greatest magic isn’t found in tricks or illusions—it is found in curiosity, trust, and people creating something beautiful together.
ABOUT SHAKESPEARE’S THE TEMPEST Prospero uses magic to conjure a storm and torment the survivors of a shipwreck, including the King of Naples and Prospero’s treacherous brother, Antonio. Prospero’s slave, Caliban, plots to rid himself of his master, but is thwarted by Prospero’s spirit-servant Ariel. The King’s young son Ferdinand, thought to be dead, falls in love with Prospero’s daughter Miranda. Their celebrations are cut short when Prospero confronts his brother and reveals his identity as the usurped Duke of Milan. The families are reunited and all conflict is resolved. Prospero grants Ariel his freedom and prepares to leave the island. –Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
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CHRIS ALLISON
JAN “YAHN” DAMM
LYDIA ISABEL DUFF
JUSTIN DURHAM
ARIELE EBACHER
SETH INGRAM
ZOË ISADORA
MARCUS KEARNS
JOJO MCDONALD
Headshot photos of Circus & The Bard: A Tempest Tossed
THE ACTORS This is what the actors and circus performers look like.
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WHAT CIRCUS ACTS YOU’LL SEE Aerial Silks Performers use the fabric to wrap, suspend, drop, swing, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions.
Aerial Silks Rolla Bolla A performer balances on stacked boards and cylinders placed on top of a table.
Rolla Bolla
Hand Balancing The Hand Balancer supports his own body in inverted vertical positions using his hands. Hand Balancing
Clown Comedy Larry and the actors perform a playful comedy scene involving “The Royal Bee.” Clown Comedy
Tight Wire A high-tension wire that the circus artist walks and balances on. Tight Wire
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Rope Jumping A circus rope jumping act is a high-energy performance that combines acrobatic tumbling, breakdancing, and extreme skipping.
Rope Jumping
Sword Balancing A circus artist balances a sword on her head while demonstrating extraordinary focus, balance, and trust in her own abilities. Sword Balancing
Table Pas de Deux Two performers complete acrobatics and balancing acts. Table Pas de Deux
Audience Participation Larry invites three volunteers from the audience to help with a clown routine. No one is required to volunteer; participation is always optional. Larry may speak to audience members, but no one is ever required to respond or come onstage. Audience Participation
Duo Hoop Two aerial performers execute synchronized movements, poses, and drops while suspended from a single hoop. Duo Hoop
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The actors and circus performers will use props like swords, bottles, and balls
DURING THE SHOW Circus acts such as rope jumping, tight-wire walking, juggling, and other acts will be performed alongside actors. Some performers’ acts are high above the stage. The actors and circus performers will use props, like swords, bottles, and balls. Some sounds and music will play during the show. Sometimes, lights will be used briefly to look like lightning. The audience is welcome to make some noises during the show, like clapping or cheering.
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If a performer needs to stop the show for any reason, they will make this signal and the show will pause.
Urinals are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse
Toilets are available in the Tina Packer Playhouse
BATHROOM If any of us need to go to the bathroom, we can get up to go any time. Ushers can show us where the bathrooms are. When the toilets flush, they are a little bit loud.
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QUIET SPACE If any of us need to take a break, we can go out to the lobby. Anyone can sit in the break space, or walk around the lobby. The break space will have pillows and cushions, as well as fidget toys and stress balls. Fidget toys and stress balls are available.
Fidget toys and stress balls are available.
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A quiet space is available for those who need a break.
Some audience members will clap at the end of the performance.
CLAPPING The show ends when the actors bow. People will clap at the end of the show. Sometimes people will stand up to clap, and sometimes people will shout out to the actors. It is ok to cover our ears if the clapping is too loud. It is ok to “clap” with fingers waving (ASL claps) People only clap for a short time.
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LEAVING Everyone in the theater will leave around the same time. The stairs might be crowded. We will walk slowly out of the theater.
Audience members will leave the theater after the performance is over.
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SENSORY BREAKDOWN The performers will be on stage approximately five minutes before the show starts, setting up props. Someone will come out on stage to welcome the audience. The audience will sometimes clap or cheer when they are done talking. :00 – The play begins. Voices speaking Shakespeare quotes start playing over the speakers. Their voices overlap, so everyone is talking at once. :15 – A sound of thunder rolls :17 – Accordion music starts to play :20 – A clown, Larry, walks on stage juggling. Three actors follow him on stage while the clown continues to juggle. :30 – Larry addresses the crowd directly, then begins to talk with the actors. 3:10 – A character, Siegfried, “roars” loudly while making a joke. 3:20 – A character, Petronella, and Larry yell out “ah!” while making a joke. 5:00 – The sound of thunder is heard and the lights on stage look like lightning. 5:05 – Two pieces of green fabric called silks drop from the ceiling. 5:20 – The thunder and lightning sounds continue, while a performer begins to spin on the silks. 5:55 – The performer continues on the silks while Petronella and Siegfried enter on the catwalk, a walkway above the stage. Siegfried jumps off of the catwalk. 6:20 – A performer enters the stage, brings a table to the center of the stage, and begins his rolla bolla act.
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11:06 – Slow music begins to play, lights darken, and the hand balancer enters the stage from the catwalk high above the stage. He walks to the center stage to begin his performance. 16:00 – The lights go dark for a moment as the Hand Balancer finishes his act. 17:30 – The sound of thunder plays and lights flicker like lightning. This happens twice. 19:00 – Siegfried sets up the tight rope. 20:30 – Fast music starts to play. It will stop and start again while the scene goes on. 24:00 – The lights darken and the Tight Rope Walker enters and begins her act. Accordion music plays while she performs. 30:00 – Light music begins to play. The lights darken and the music gets faster as the Rope Jumper begins his act. 35:00 – A woman walks on stage holding a large sword. She exits through the aisle closest to the theater entrance. 38:00 – The lights darken, music begins, and two performers begin their act. 44:00 – Larry the Clown asks for some members of the audience to come on stage to help him with some tricks, or to call things out to him from the audience. Larry will only call on people who volunteer, and no one needs to volunteer. 52:00 – Music starts to play as the Duo Hoop performers begin their act. 59:00 – The lights darken, music begins to play, and all of the performers come on stage. The play ends. Timestamps are approximate. Shakespeare & Company’s sensory-friendly and open-captioned programming has been developed, in part, through the generous support of the GKV Foundation.
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