A ‘winter’s tale’ is a fantasy, and The Winter’s Tale is Shakespeare’s great play of the irrational and inexplicable. The play’s uncontrollable emotions – rage, love, grief and forgiveness – range across gender, country, class and age. Its universe is full of monsters, gods and natural disasters, and its colossal sweep takes us from stifling courts to unbuttoned festivals.

Blanche McIntyre directs this tragicomedy with Will Keen (Ghosts, Almeida, The Crown, Netflix) will star as Leontes alongside Annette Badland (EastEnders, BBC, Hung Over, Royal Court) as Old Shepherd, Priyanga Burford (Consent, National Theatre) as Hermione, Sirine Saba (Goats, Royal Court) as Paulina and Oliver Ryan (Glengarry Glen Ross, West End) as Polixenes.

Synopsis

In a fit of groundless jealousy, Leontes wrecks his marriage, defies the gods, destroys his family and ruins himself. As the years roll around, a new generation flee their own country and take refuge in Sicilia. Unknowingly they bring with them the key to the past, present and future…