SYNOPSIS

Act One Scene 1

The Queen of Milan’s ship is returning to Italy having attended her daughter’s wedding in Tunis. Also on board is her son and heir, Ferdinand, her sister Princess Sebastienne, Antonio – the Duke of Milan, her chief counsellor, Gonzalo and his son and daughter. The ship is visited by the Spirits, who raise a fierce storm, tearing the ship apart.

Act One Scene 2

Suspecting her father, Prospero is responsible for the storm, Miranda is distraught but he assures her no-one has been harmed. He shares with her the tale of how they came to be shipwrecked themselves on this island, twelve years earlier. His ambitious brother, Antonio with the help of Queen Alonsa, overthrew Prospero and by force, banished him and Miranda to the open seas, never to be heard of again.

Propsero places Miranda under a sleeping spell and calls on the spirit, Ariel. She reports the events of the storm and reassures Prospero that everyone is safe and dispersed throughout the island. When Ariel asks to be set free, Prospero threatens her and reminds her how he saved her from a curse placed on her by the witch Sycorax. Ariel submits and Prospero promises to release her in two days if she will help him with this one last project.

As Ariel disappears, Prospero awakens Miranda and summons his servant, Caliban who is the monstrous son of the witch Sycorax. Prospero berates the unpleasant Caliban and reveals that when they first arrived, he had treated Caliban like a son, until he attempted to rape Miranda. Prospero forces him to fetch wood for their fire.

Act One Scene 3

Having survived the shipwreck, Ferdinand searches desperately for his mother. Ariel and the Spirits torment him with a song that makes him believe his mother is drowned. When he sees Miranda, it is love at first sight. Prospero reveals that he plans for them to wed, but to make sure the relationship doesn’t develop too fast, he decides to make things difficult. Prospero accuses Ferdinand of trying to depose him as the leader of the island. When threatened with imprisonment, Ferdinand draws his sword but Prospero charms him and takes him away to prison, ignoring the pleas of Miranda.

Act One Scene 4

Elsewhere on the island, the Queen and Nobles seek for the presumed dead Ferdinand. Gonzalo comments on their miraculous escape and the inexplicable state of their clothes. Ariel appears putting them all asleep except for Sebastienne and Antonio. Seeing an opportunity, the two contemplate killing the Queen, making Sebastienne, the Queen of Naples – just as Antonio usurped his brother to become Duke of Milan. As they draw their weapons, Ariel whispers a warning in Gonzalo’s ear who awakens suddenly and Sebastienne and Antonio pretend they were protecting the sleepers from a pack of lions. Shaken and wary, the group resolves to continue searching for the missing Prince.

Act One Scene 5

Meanwhile, Caliban is fetching wood while cursing his master. He hears Trincula, Queen Alonsa’s silly maid and thinking she is a spirit sent by Prospero to hurt him, he hides under his cloak. Undeterred by Caliban’s odd appearance and fish-like smell, Trincula crawls under Caliban’s cloak to protect her from the storm. Shortly after, Stephano, Queen Alonsa’s butler, arrives drunk and singing and stumbles upon the strange sight of Trincula and Caliban underneath the cloak. Stephano decides that it is a two headed, four legged monster suffering an ailment and pours some wine into his mouth. Caliban believes the drink is celestial and so Stephano must be a God. He offers to be his subject and swears off his former master, Prospero. Thinking that everyone from the ship is drowned, Stephano agrees and dreams of being the Lord of the island.

Act Two Scene 1

Stephano, Trincula and Caliban are now raucously drunk. Caliban worships Stephano and his heavenly drink but loathes and mocks Trincula. They are visited by the invisible Ariel, who overhears their plan to kill Prospero, seize Miranda and take control as King of the Island. Ariel leaves to inform Prospero as the Spirits lead the drunken crew on a merry goose-chase.

Act Two Scene 2

Prospero watches unseen as Ferdinand & Miranda fall deeper in love and exchange a promise of marriage.

Act Two Scene 3

Meanwhile, Queen Alonsa and the Nobles grow weary of their search for the presumed-drowned Ferdinand. Prospero watches unseen as the Spirits conjure a large banquet and invite the Nobles to feast. Starving, they move to eat as a spell is cast over them. The Banquet disappears as the Queen, Antonio and Sebastienne are visited by a Harpy and haunted by memories of their past crimes against Prospero and Miranda. The Queen is told that her son’s death is punishment for these crimes and they are left guilt-ridden and remorseful. The Queen exits threatening to drown herself and the Nobles hurry after her hastily.

Act Two Scene 4

Prospero performs a magical marriage ceremony for Ferdinand & Miranda by summoning the Spirits and the Goddess to perform an ancient wedding ritual. As the young lovers rejoice, Prospero is suddenly angry and disrupts the festivities. He has remembered Caliban’s plot against him and summons Ariel and the Spirits to set a trap for the drunken would-be villains.

Act Two Scene 5

Ariel updates Prospero on the state of the Queen and her followers who are now under a spell, wandering around the island in a state of constant remorse. Ariel manages to make Prospero see that he must now put an end to his revengeful torture and thus move past his bitterness and resentment. Prospero calls upon the Spirits and vows that after his work is done, he shall give up his magic, brake his staff and throw his book deep in the ocean, thus freeing them all. Prospero lifts the spell from the Nobles and reveals himself to his enemies. After much remorse, Prospero forgives them all. Queen Alonsa tells Prospero of the loss of her son and Prospero replies by saying that he too has recently lost his daughter. Showing the Queen his meaning, he brings forth Miranda and Ferdinand, reuniting the Queen with her son. Miranda is just as stunned at the sight of the noble group, having never see so many people.

Ariel returns with the Boatswain and Mariners who inform the Queen that, miraculously, their ship is in perfect condition and ready to sail. He explains that he and the crew have been asleep under the ship since the storm and have only just awakened. At Prospero’s request, Ariel brings in Caliban, Stephano and Trincula. Prospero berates Caliban but instead of punishing him as Caliban expects, Prospero shows mercy and bestows upon him his home.

He proposes that everyone stay for the night on the Queen’s ship, where he will recount the story of he and Miranda’s life in the island for the past twelve years. After which, the group shall sail to Italy, where Prospero shall retire in Milan. Prospero gives Ariel one last task, to make sure the seas are calm for the return voyage. After which, Prospero sets Ariel free.

Epilogue

Alone, Prospero asks forgiveness from the audience for any wrongdoings and requests to be set free by joining your hands together to applaud.

Company Professionals

BRENDAN O’CONNOR Prospero

Founding Ensemble Member

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: This is Brendan’s 16th appearance on the garden stage. He performed in the first ever Shakespeare Under The Stars as Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (1992). Most recently as Richard III in Blood Will Have Blood (2021), Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (2020), Iago in Othello (2019) and Macbeth (2013)

THEATREiNQ: Brendan is a co-founder of TheatreiNQ and has featured in 39 of our 47 Productions. In addition to his on-stage roles, behind the scenes the multi-talented actor is also the Company Production Manager, Set Designer and Construction, Lighting Designer and key Fight Choreographer.

OTHER THEATRE: 18 Years as leading actor with the Australian Shakespeare Company; founding Member of Tropic Line Theatre Company and original cast of Shakespeare Under the Stars; AFCM - Noye’s Fludde (God); JUTE - Summaris and Grace

OTHER: Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Actor & Technical Strand); Mulkadee Drama Coach (2012-14/2018)

FILM & TV: Australia on Trial, City Homicide, Crash/Burn, Marshall Law, Ned Kelly, Neighbours, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Welcher & Welcher

ADVERTISING: Mitre 10, RACQ, Campbells Soup, The Age, Beaurepaires, National Australia Bank, Mitsubishi, Cabots (USA), Origin Energy, Captain Snooze

TRAINING: Associate Diploma of Performing Arts

AWARDS: Townsville City Council Services to the Arts Award (2019), Townsville City Council Performance of the Year (2015), Townsville City Council Jean-Pierre Voos Theatre Award (2012), Jean-Pierre Award (2011)

Lachlan Stevenson

Ensemble Member Since 2013

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: Blood Will Have Blood, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth

THEATREiNQ: Orphans, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass, One Man, Two Guvnors, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli,The Crucible,Two Weeks WithThe Queen, Crew: WhatistheMatterwithMaryJane?,TheCrippleofInishmaan,Sylvia

OTHER THEATRE: Earlier this year Lachlan joined with fellow The Bridge Project Alumni and WAAPA Graduates, Brittany Santariga & James Thomasson to form Stacks On Theatre in Sydney; Stacks On Theatre: A Pinter Revue, Orphans; New Theatre: Animal Farm; WAAPA: Atlas, The Seagull, the Two Gentlemen of Verona, Ajax in Afghanistan, Romeo and Juliet, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Misanthrope, An Ideal Husband, Motortown, Birdland

TV: Spotlight - A Current Affair

TRAINING: WAAPA - Bachelor of Arts (Acting); TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project

AWARDS: Martin Gibson Medal (2016)

Company Apprentice

Rosalili Ford

THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SESSIONS

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: Blood Will Have Blood, Much Ado About Nothing

THEATREiNQ: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through the Looking Glass

OTHER THEATRE: Magnetic Island’s Theatre on the Rock Productions

ADVERTISING: Pickerings

TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project, ThiNQ ED Workshops

Company Actors

ARMINELLE FLEMING Trincula

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2011 SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: This will be Arminelle’s 11th appearance on the garden stage. Her first being 2001’s The Merchant of Venice as Jessica. Notable roles include: Maria in Twelfth Night (2015), Regan in King Lear (2012) & Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2011).

THEATREiNQ: The White Rose and the Red, The Blood of Kings, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Gert & Bess, Alice in Wonderland, The Cripple of Inishmaan; Director: Two Weeks With The Queen, X-Stacy; Stage Manager: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Crucible, The Importance of Being Earnest

OTHER THEATRE: Director: Acting with Arminelle; Mulkadee Writer & Drama Co-ordinator (2019-2022); Director Combined School MusicalBeauty and the Beast; TCC Carols by Candlelight Writer/Director (201921); Actor, Director and Stage Manager for various companies in Brisbane and Townsville including La Luna, Zen Zen Zo, Matrix Theatre and The Queensland Ballet

OTHER: Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; ThiNQ Ed Co-ordinator; TheatreiNQ’s Grants & Sponsorships Manager; NQ Theatre Residency Week (2020-22)

TRAINING: QUT- BA (Drama/History); Shakespeare & Co (USA); Trinity College (UK); ACS (Scotland)

AWARDS: John du Feu Award (2018)

VICTORIA FOWLER Sebastienne

THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SESSIONS

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: Much Ado About Nothing, Othello

THEATREiNQ: The Blood of Kings, Alice Through the Looking Glass, DNA

OTHER THEATRE: St Margaret Mary’s Productions; Queensland Theatre’s The Scene Project

TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; THiNQ ED Workshops; NIDA Short Courses

Lisandro Garcia

THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SESSIONS

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: Blood Will Have Blood, Much Ado about Nothing, Othello

THEATREiNQ: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass, The Blood of Kings, DNA

ADVERTISING: Pickerings; DoorDash

TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; ThiNQ Ed Workshops

AWARDS: Martin Gibson Medal (2021)

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2012

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: Blood Will Have Blood, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear

THEATREiNQ: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass, The Vagina Monologues, First Born, Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein, One Man, Two Guvnors, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Last Post

OTHER THEATRE: ASC Grad Players: Much Ado About Benedick & Beatrice; La Luna: Amelia Ellicott’s Garden; NQOMT: Sweeney Todd, Hair; TCS: Avenue Q, Spamalot, West Side Story, Chess

TV: Spotlight - A Current Affair

OTHER: Coach - TheatreiNQ’s The Performance Project (2022); The Culture Crew (2016-18); Mulkadee Drama

TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (2014-2017)

AWARDS: Jean-Pierre Award (2018); TCC Performance of the Year (Chess, TCOS 2010)