Claps of thunder and flashes of lightning illuminate a swelling sea, as a ship buckles beneath the waves. It is no ordinary storm, but a violent and vengeful tempest, and it sets the stage for Shakespeare's most enigmatic play. Why does this play still resonate with modern readers? Iseult Gillespie investigates. [Directed by Héloïse Dorsan Rachet, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Jarrett Farkas].

Iseult Gillespie: Why should you read Shakespeare's "The Tempest"?

Why should you read Shakespeare's "The Tempest"?

The Tempest explores colonialism and power's fluidity, reflecting on whether cycles of injustice and pursuit of control can end.

Caliban's resistance against Prospero's dominion on the island questions rightful ownership and the morality of power's acquisition.

Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, mirrors his own life, pondering the relinquishment of control and the legacy left behind.