The Winter’s Tale
One of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, The Winter’s Tale, though written at the same period as The Tempest, smashes all the rules that The Tempest follows. Unity of time, place and action are hurled aside as we range across Europe, from court to country, from high tragedy to low comedy, across a time span of sixteen years.
The Winter’s Tale tells of a delusional and paranoid king who tears his family apart. But this is the new Shakespeare, after he completed his great tragedies, and the tough struggle for redemption yields flickers of hope. Initial darkness gives way to joy as Time leads the characters to a shattering conclusion…
Free pre-show talk also available on Thu 16 March – click here for more details or to book.
Produced by Cheek by Jowl in a co-production with the Barbican, London; Les Gémeaux/Sceaux/Scène Nationale; Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg; Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa; Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid (INAEM).
DINNER & A SHOW OFFER
Make a night of it by booking a pre-show meal at Food @ the Mercury. Simply add either a two (£13.95) or three course (£15.95) meal to your basket along with your theatre tickets.
No need to choose what you are having in advance – simply select from the delicious options available on the night.
This show has been paired with our Mercury Classics menu. Click here to take a look!
Please note this offer applies to evening performances only. Click here to see our daytime dining options.

Grace Andrews
Emilia / Time

Joseph Black
Cleomenes

David Carr
Camillo

Tom Cawte
Mamillius

Ryan Donaldson
Autolycus

Orlando James
Leontes

Sam McArdle
Young Shepherd

Eleanor McLoughlin
Perdita

Peter Moreton
Old Shepherd / Antigonus

Natalie Radmall-Quirke
Hermione / Dorcas

Joy Richardson
Paulina / Mopsa

Edward Sayer
Polixenes

Sam Woolf
Florizel
The production is highly polished and the cast are excellent.
TheatreBath.co.uk
I was captivated from start to finish.
Bath Chronicle
An expertly unflinching exploration of Shakespeare’s most bizarre play
Daily Info
All the vast richness of the world dreamed up by Shakespeare shines with blinding splendour in this Winter’s Tale
El Pais
It would be hard to find superlatives adequate to do justice to this production and its uniformly excellent cast.
Cambridge News
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