Oriol Broggi directs Lluís Soler in a new version of 'La tempestat'

Based on Jaume Coll Mariné's translation, Oriol Broggi has directed his version of the story of Prosper and his daughter Miranda in William Shakespeare's The Tempest . Lluís Soler had longed to play the Duke of Milan, exiled with his daughter to a mythical Mediterranean island, and now the time has come to step into the shoes of this "Shakespearean alter ego," as the veteran actor describes him.

“Prosper has been very liberal throughout his life, and he explains this to his daughter,” Soler says. “And he has a great deal of knowledge of nature, which allows him to act for better or worse. The play speaks of power and how humans use it. Despite his kindness, Prosper, who has been living on the island with his daughter and two other characters for twenty years, when he reunites with the brother who betrayed him and banished him, wants to make him pay for everything he did. In the play, both those with power and those without it play with power and want to kill people.”

Clara de Ramon plays Miranda, the daughter of the banished duke, the only female character

The actor explains why he believes Prosper is Shakespeare's alter ego: "Because the playwright always explained to humans what they were like, with power and hatred. In the final speech Prosper gives, which could be Shakespeare's, he says that humans have a useless brain inside their heads. And that's why he tries to make that brain improve a little. They all return to Naples, and we don't know how they'll end up, if they'll return to where they were and kill each other. And that's why we still have Ukraine and Gaza today."

Oriol Broggi says that thanks to the Grec Festival, he was able to stage this major production, with nine characters. “We asked Jaume Coll Mariné for a new translation, which he wrote in verse. We made modifications and adapted it to our own way. It's good with Shakespeare to be able to make it your own.”

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“A lot happens in The Tempest ,” the director continues. “It's a big, complicated, special, labyrinthine play... At many points, we were very lost, wondering whether we should do it this way or that way. But the play has been kind to us and let us follow this path. What's clear is that it takes place on an island, an island between continents, where today's misfortunes happen. We've made an adaptation that's not noticeable; it's very theatrical, unlike Macbeth , which was so different, with such an abrupt adaptation.”

The unforced adaptation of 'The Tempest' differs from the theatricality of 'Macbeth'

Broggi summarizes the plot: “An exiled duke and his daughter live on an island with fantastic beings. In a storm, a ship carrying another duke, his entire court, and his son sinks. The daughter and son fall quickly and deeply in love. Everything is pulled by the strings controlled by Prosper with the help of Ariel, and in the end, they find each other and forgive each other.”

The character of Miranda is played by Clara de Ramon, who asks herself: “Why am I the only female character? Because the play talks about the power wielded by men, and that's why there are so many wars. But it's not a joke, and we've removed some things to leave only the good side of Miranda.” Regarding this character, Broggi believes that “Shakespeare only features one female character, but he places her at the center and she represents all the female characters. Miranda is the light, the beacon that can save the world.”

With this work, the La Perla 29 company, which Broggi reveals is "in a period of change," returns to actors, to the sand stage... while Macbeth launches an international tour.