London: Oscar-nominated Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver has made her highly anticipated West End debut, taking on the role of the magician Prospero in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. At 75, Weaver, best known for her iconic roles in the Alien franchise and Avatar series, expressed her satisfaction with embracing the challenge, despite initial nerves.
Weaver admitted that stepping into the world of theatre had its challenges, revealing that she experienced “moments of terror” due to the grandeur of the stage, which she described as “so much bigger than any place I’ve ever worked.”
Sigourney Weaver marks her first appearance on the West End in ‘The Tempest,’ playing a female Prospero. The Hollywood star admitted to experiencing ‘moments of terror’ due to the theatre's size, but is glad she embraced the challenge https://t.co/6ue0Xsz6Gh pic.twitter.com/w096TBr0G9
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After the press night at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Thursday, Weaver, along with the cast and production team, shared their thoughts on the performance. British director Jamie Lloyd, who has previously worked on productions like Sunset Boulevard and Romeo and Juliet, remarked that he “never dreamed she’d say yes” to the role. Lloyd, who grew up watching Weaver in films, reflected on how something about the project, the theatre, and the character of Prospero “instantly attracted Sigourney to the role.”
The Tempest follows a female version of Prospero, who, after being exiled by her brother, becomes a powerful sorcerer on a mystical island. Weaver’s interpretation of Prospero makes the character’s journey of exile and return all the more poignant, as she emphasized that a woman taking on the role made much more sense. “In the old days they would… rip this woman away from her position and her life and put her on this island,” Weaver said. “It’s so powerful,” she continued, noting that many women today have “much to express about what isn’t fair.”
Mara Huf, making her own West End debut as Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, also discussed her role, describing a new take on the character. Traditionally portrayed as innocent and naïve, Huf’s Miranda brings a fresh, tougher interpretation to the stage. “There’s so much more to her than that,” Huf said.
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The production mixes themes of romance, revenge, and forgiveness, with a central message of hope. Director Jamie Lloyd spoke to the hopeful nature of the play, commenting, “There’s something kind of like amazingly, boundlessly hopeful about this idea that from a shipwreck… from chaos and confusion can come great sanity… clarity… and hope for the future as opposed to kind of dwelling on the problems of the past.”
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The Tempest is running at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until February 1st, offering audiences a chance to witness this historic debut from one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars.
