The Tempest By William Shakespeare Role: Sebastian Directed by Manna-Symone Middlebrooks Northwestern University, Wirtz Center for the Peforming Arts
May 2024

Shakespeare’s classic tale of shipwreck and magic is retold from a modern perspective exploring the impacts of colonialism and climate change. As the sorcerer Prospero plots revenge for his wrongful exile, a group of greedy nobles wanders the island and interacts with the mystical beings that inhabit it. As they meander about, the power-hungry Sebastian and Antonio plot to kill the Duke (Prospero’s brother) until their plans are publicly and embarrassingly exposed.

A man and a woman are having a conversation on stage with a backdrop that appears to be a polluted environment or a landfill, with trash and debris visible.
Four people on stage surrounded by trash and debris, with two of them examining a crate of fruit, including apples, pears, and pineapples.
Actors on stage performing a scene with a dark, rocky backdrop and trash, with one actor standing holding a weapon and another actor sitting on the ground.
Dancers performing on stage with a rocky, volcanic backdrop, wearing flowing costumes, with two dancers jumping in the center while others watch.
Theatrical performance on stage depicting a scene with five actors, some kneeling and others standing, against a backdrop resembling a pile of trash with a dark and blue-lit setting.
Theater performance with actors on stage in dark costumes, some wearing flowing white garments, under vibrant green and blue lighting, with a painted backdrop resembling a forest.
Three performers on stage during a theatrical play, with a woman on the left, a man in the center in a graduation gown, and another man on the right, set against a backdrop of garbage and a blue waterfall.
Theater scene with actors in costumes, some in white and others in colorful clothing, on a stage with a rocky backdrop and green and red lighting.
Cast members on stage after a theatrical performance, holding hands and taking a bow, with stage scenery and lighting in the background.

Photos by Justin Barbin

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