the winter’s tale at the tobacco factory…

Moira’s birthday celebrations included seeing Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” at the Tobacco Factory Theatre last night (Ru joined also us, which was lovely). The other bonus was that ‘our’ Felix was playing the leading role of King Leontes – how on earth are actors able to learn SO many lines?! – and he was superb.
We think we’d previously seen the play at the RSC in Stratford perhaps 30 years ago (long before I began blogging reviews!).
I knew the basic story… jealousy, redemption, the enduring power of love and the cyclical nature of life, as marked by the seasons. The programme notes summed things up perfectly: “Driven by unfounded jealousy, King Leontes accuses his wife Hermione of infidelity, triggering tragic consequences. Years later, through acts of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the miraculous power of time, a chance at renewal and hope emerges. This timeless tale moves seamlessly between tragedy and comedy, offering a rich exploration of human emotion and resilience”.
It's a hugely impressive production (directed by the Tobacco Factory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Heidi Vaughan) and the quality of the actors (every member of the company is based within a 25-mile radius of Bristol) is consistently high.
The Winter’s Tale reminds us that even the harshest winter can give way to the hope of spring, delight of Summer and the tender Autumn of our years (in these crazy Trump-dominated days, I just hope that holds true!).
We really enjoyed it and I would urge you to see it for yourself if you live in the Bristol area (it runs until 29 March).