Lovers of Tauranga's Summer Shakespeare will be delighted to know local thespian and director Pascal Tibbits is holding auditions for ‘The Tempest’ on Sunday, October 8, at 51 Cliff Road.

Against the picturesque backdrop of Te Puna Quarry, this summer's outdoor performance in February is set to captivate audiences with the enchanting magic of Shakespeare's timeless classic.

It will be nine years since the first Shakespeare play was staged in Tauranga in 2015, by what has since evolved into the Summer Shakespeare Tauranga Trust. This will be the sixth show they’ve put on since 2015, with the last one – ‘Love's Labour's Lost’ staged in 2020 at Tauranga Historic Village.

A rehearsal for 'Merchants of Venice' in 2019 with director Dylan Frewin, and actors Paul Mabey, John McCarthy, David Guy, James Cowie, Pascal Tibbits, Gin Mabey, Fraser Graham and Gail Spence. Photo: Supplied.

“We started at Te Puna Quarry Park in 2015, moved to the Tauranga Historic Village, and have had the last three years off,” says Pascal.

Over the years, Summer Shakespeare Tauranga has produced ‘Much ado about nothing’ in 2017, ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ in 2018, ‘Merchant of Venice’ in 2019, and ‘Love's Labour's Lost’ in 2020, all at Tauranga Historic Village.

“Performance art has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, with gatherings of people being restricted,” says Pascal.

The Summer Shakespeare Tauranga Trust became a charitable organisation three years ago, designed to encourage young people particularly to work beside more seasoned actors and crew.

The Tempest as a play, is perhaps a topical one given the storms of the past year, says Pascal.

“We will be playing on this and the ideas of climate change a little.

“However, in brief it is a fun and relatively short play that has mystery and illusion, darkness and light, sprights and trolls, oppression and forgiveness, love and hate…. but it all wraps up with a promise of marriage and reconciliation.”

A scene from 'Love's Labour's Lost' at Tauranga Historic Village in 2020. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

A fantasy play with strong comedy and musical elements, Pascal says in fact it is one of the most musical plays that Shakespeare wrote.

“We are looking to collaborate with dancers, singers and musical groups this year.”

Anyone interested in auditioning for ‘The Tempest’ can email: pascal@pascaltibbits.co.nz for an audition pack which includes audition sheets and synopsis. Auditions are being held from 12pm – 3pm on Sunday, October 8, at 51 Cliff Road.

The play will be performed in February, 2024.