The Tempest at San Anton

William Shakespeare's classic The Tempest is this year's MADC play to be staged at San Anton Gardens.

The Bard's masterpieces have been the subject of the MADC productions at San Anton since 1938.

Australian director Colin Willis has assembled a strong cast for this year's production.

Among them are John Marinelli, who has appeared in 12 previous San Anton productions, plays the lead, Prospero.

Julia Calvert has landed herself the part of Miranda, after playing Emilia in the 1998 production of Othello and working at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

English actor Andy Hamflett adds Ferdinand to his Shakespearean pedigree, which includes roles as Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream in the UK.

Ariel is Faye Cachia Zammit, who shone in Masquerade's recent production of Amadeus and in Acting House's The Lady From the Sea.

Caliban is Marc Spiteri, who appeared in the last two MADC Shakespeare productions, Twelfth Night and As You Like It.

Experienced actors Joe Pace (Antonio) and Renato Dimech (Stephanio) are joined by Jean-Pierre Agius, who won 'Best Actor' at this year's MADC one-act play festival.

Malcolm Galea, seen in Twelfth Night and All's Well That Ends Well is Trinculo, Martin Azzopardi plays grief-stricken Alonso, while Graham Arnold plays Gonzalo with his apprentice Adrian acted by Alan Azzopardi.

Performances are from Friday to Saturday, July 12 (except for Sunday, July 6) and start at 9 p.m.

Tickets are available from Sapienza's Bookshop in Valletta, The Union Club, Sliema and The Melita Bar and Restaurant, San Anton.

Tickets are also available from the gardens one hour before the performance.