An inventive, sideways look at Shakespeare’s The Tempest

Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest, written as Europe was taking its first step towards colonialism, is a tale about power – exercised weakly, usurped violently, and regained through strategy and showmanship.

We Caliban sees this story through the eyes of Caliban. A minor character in the play, his life is changed forever when the power games of distant lands and unknown peoples are played out in his own remote island, making him a “monstrous” servant to a new master and his young daughter.

Shobana Jeyasingh’s bold and imaginative new work is partnered by visually stunning projections by Will Duke and captivating music by Thierry Pécou. Performed by eight of Britain’s most talented dancers, We Caliban is a stunning production, with lighting design by Floriaan Ganzevoort, set and costume design by Mayou Trikerioti and dramaturgy by Uzma Hameed.

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is one of the most dynamic and distinctive forces in UK dance. The Company’s vivid and powerful productions live long in the memory, applauded by audiences and critics alike across the globe.

Co-produced by Sadler’s Wells, with kind support from DanceEast and DANSOX.

Header image description: Three performers wearing black and with white dots painted on their face. Two are facing forward and one facing the back. They are holding halds. Around them is lightening bolts.

Header image © Chris Nash