The Tempest

by Nick Warburton (Adapted By)

Putting romance onstage, The Tempest gives us a magician, Prospero, a former duke of Milan who was displaced by his treacherous brother, Antonio. Prospero is exiled on an island, where his only companions are his daughter, Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the monster Caliban. When his enemies are among those caught in a storm near the island, Prospero turns his power upon them through Ariel and other spirits.
The characters exceed the roles of villains and heroes. Prospero seems heroic, yet he enslaves Caliban and has an appetite for revenge. Caliban seems to be a monster for attacking Miranda, but appears heroic in resisting Prospero, evoking the period of colonialism during which the play was written. Miranda’s engagement to Ferdinand, the Prince of Naples and a member of the shipwrecked party, helps resolve the drama.

96 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2001

About the author

Nick Warburton was born in 1947 and is married with one son. He gave up teaching in primary schools after ten years to try writing (also doing part-time work in libraries and selling on craft stalls). He writes children's books, radio, stage and television scripts, and in 1985 was joint winner of the BBC/Radio Times drama award for Conversations From the Engine Room.

Nick's play "Beast" won the Tinniswood Award; best play of 2005. See brief mention below and Tinniswood Award page.