A dreadful summer, even by English standards, failed to keep Shakepeare lovers away from our production of The Tempest in the beautiful gardens of Hall’s Croft. Though in the first week there was always the threat of rain, by Wednesday of week two things improved and Graham Tyrer’s magical production was seen by around 700 people.

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
directed by Graham Tyrer
The Gardens of Halls Croft, Stratford
15th - 24th July 2004(excl 19 July)

Shakespeare's last play is a mystical drama of romance, magic, revenge and reconciliation. Deposed from his dukedom in Milan and cast out to sea with his daughter, Miranda, Prospero has a miraculous power over the island on which they have made their home. With a monster and spirits added to the usual mix of storms, shipwrecks, love at first sight and confused nobility, The Tempest is highly entertaining and lends itself particularly well to an out-of doors production.

One of the Birthplace Trust properties, Hall's Croft in Old Town was home to Dr John Hall, who was married to Shakespeare's daughter Susanna. The house forms a perfect backdrop to the action, while the old English garden, with its ancient Mulberry tree and herbal bed, provides a pleasant setting to enjoy your complementary glass of wine during the interval. Second Thoughts' previous productions here - "Twelfth Night", "As You Like It", "Much Ado About Nothing" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" - have been mercifully free from interference by bad weather and are always extremely popular.

"The location is idyllic and utterly Elizabethan. Nothing can be more atmospheric than reaching the conclusion of the play as the light fades, the swifts scream and the audience is overwhelmed by the scent of lavender."

In 2002 we departed from the works of Shakespeare and turned instead to Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde’s play of manners transferred extremely well to the outdoors and the house, as ever, proved to be the perfect backdrop.