Auditions for Tauranga's highly anticipated Summer Shakespeare production of 'The Tempest' are underway, promising a cultural delight for those who have been eagerly waiting for more of the bard.

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

Aspiring actors, theatre enthusiasts and lovers of Tauranga's Summer Shakespeare will be delighted to know local thespian and director Pascal Tibbits is holding auditions next Sunday, October 8, at the 51 Cliff Road community building.

It will be nine years since the first Shakespeare play was staged in 2015, by what has since evolved into the Summer Shakespeare Tauranga Trust.

There has been a hiatus during the pandemic years.

"We were involved with the 'Midsummer’s Night Dream' at The Puna Quarry in 2015, and started the Tauranga Summer Shakespeare at the Tauranga Historic Village the following year with Twelfth Night," says Pascal, who will be directing ‘The Tempest’ for the 2024 season.

"There has been a break due to the pandemic, and we are finally going ahead."

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.

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

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

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.

“Coming out the other side of this has been slow and many people have moved on but there are now green shoots and a renewed desire to connect with the creative community.

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.

“Fostering a love of Shakespeare in particular, but also the performing arts in the community.  An inclusive and safe environment for people finding self-expression through performance.”

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

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

The trust is currently applying for community grants to help support the production for 2024.

“We want to go for it and have good support. We’re really keen to get back into it and have young people involved.”

Anyone interested in auditioning for ‘The Tempest’ is asked to go to the Facebook page ‘Summer Shakespeare Tauranga’. The audition event is pinned to the top of the page. Or 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 Cliff Road Building, 51 Cliff Road, Tauranga by the carpark.

The play will be performed in February, 2024.