Shakespeare's The Tempest is a powerful narrative of power and mercy. It is the story of Prospero, the magician banished to a desert island who forsakes revenge in the name of forgiveness. In our society, technology is our magic, and the roots of our industrial-technological complex lie in the imaginings of the imperialist 19th Century.

Steampunk Tempest will explore the contemporary theme of the unnerving ubiquity of technology. It will expose the trap that our love affair with technology and control can create, by setting the classic play in the context of a Jules Verne-esque world, filled with whimsical but eerily threatening machinery. As Prospero makes the journey towards forgiveness and self-worth, he realises the futility of power and control, and the power of redemption. Zeppelin captains battling thunderstorms, a salvage yard double-headed Caliban, a Tesla-esque Prospero manipulating artificial lightning, and a virtual cyborg Ariel will make Steampunk Tempest a feast for the eyes and ears, and a new vision of Shakespeare's masterpiece.

Steampunk is a genre of fiction, music and film, a fashion movement, a philosophy and a social phenomenon. It is based on the idea of a past that never was, of a future imagined by the likes of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley and others during the 19th Century. It is a combination of new and old, of elegance and whimsy. Check out these links to get an idea of the style we are going for:

http://www.robotvsbadger.com/images/hes-a-steampunk-man/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

The Tempest's World Premiere will be on the 29th August, 2012 at Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville (Sydney). The show is running as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, and will finish on 8 Sept. 

We have three main funding sources for The Tempest. The director/producer is funding around a third of the project, which covers the venue hire and some other sundries. Sponsorship is going to cover the legals and marketing costs. We will use the funds raised on Pozible to cover the cost of the costumes, the set and props. So you will be responsible for all of the talented artists and designers on The Tempest crew getting the materials they need to create an amazing world!

Yes! at http://www.thetempest.com.au