Unitec play puts new spin on Shakespeare's Tempest

15 September 2010
For Immediate Release
Unitec play puts new spin on Shakespeare's The Tempest

The reworking of William Shakespeare's classic final play The Tempest by one of New Zealand's most innovative directors, Anna Marbrook is bound to take audiences by surprise, according to Unitec's acting curriculum leader, John Davies.

Prospero's Dream, which opens at Unitec Theatre on Friday, is a modern adaptation of The Tempest. The play illuminates how humans behave when faced with the unfamiliar and strange. Prepare to enter a comical world that explores the intricacies of power and the anarchy of the spirit; an intimate theatrical event, overflowing with rich characterisations and boldly incorporating elements of the here and now.

The questions and themes raised in the Shakespeare's original script still resonate today, but that is where the comparisons end as the Unitec performance attempts to both educate and be relevant to today's young text-generation.

"Perhaps in this de-construction of Shakespeare's great work we are claiming an emphasis that gestures toward a notion that Prospero's Dream is the dream of New Zealand, a place for new beginnings, a new world that would see the reconciliation of old injustices, a dream where the only moral revenge is forgiveness," says Davies.

"If this be the case then this is a dream worth performing, a dream for our own New World."

Helping to bring to life Marbrook's vision are Unitec's second year acting students, whose multi-cultural makeup promises to add perspective, depth and realism to the performance.
"Prospero's Dream is a response to the Tempest. It is described as a comedy and beneath the laughter, there are deeper themes," says Marbrook, whose credits include over 100 episodes of Shortland Street in a career stretching 20 years.

"I chose this work as I was fascinated by the questions it throws up about mortality, exile, power and forgiveness. The play is rich with the questions and musings of someone in their later years. This has been challenging for a young cast but it has opened the door for them to think about theatre on an emotional, political and spiritual level."
Prospero's Dream runs from 17-25 September at the Unitec Theatre on Carrington Road in Mt Albert, Auckland.

WHAT'S ON: Prospero's Dream
WHEN: 17-18 & 20-25 September at 7pm - Matinee 25 September at 2pm
WHERE: Unitec Theatre, Building 6, Gate 1, Carrington Road, Mt Albert, Auckland
WHO: Unitec second year acting students; directed by Anna Marbrook.
DURATION: 90 minutes
COST: $15 adults, $10 concession, $5 students.
TICKETS: Book through iTICKET (09) 361 1000 or online at: http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2010/sep/prosperos-dream
CONTACT: Peter Rees (09) 815 4321 ext. 7284 / 021 1090 553 prees@unitec.ac.nz
About the director:
The Unitec acting programme is very pleased to have engaged one of New Zealand's most innovative directors to work with our second year students on their production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Anna Marbrook has a career spanning 20 years working in theatre, film and television as a director. She has produced award winning work in New Zealand and internationally.

About the Unitec Department of Performing & Screen Arts
Unitec's performing arts programme is recognised as one of New Zealand's finest.
Many of our graduates are now prominent actors, backstage technicians and stage managers in the theatre and film/television industries.
From Outrageous Fortune to Shortland Street to Go Girls to many of the country's top theatre groups - we are proud of our strong links to the industry and continue to be committed to providing these career paths to aspiring young New Zealanders.

ENDS/

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