NARRATOR: King Alonso, Gonzalo and their minions are fast asleep. Sebastian andAntonio’s knives glint in the sun. They’re stepping forward to commit themurders, when…
Ariel whooshes in and whispers in old Gonzalo’s ear. Gonzalo wakes upand shouts ‘Save the king! Save the king!’
The king splutters awake too. ‘What’s going on? And why the knives,Antonio?’
Antonio is a quick thinker - bad guys tend to be. ‘Lions!’ he cries.
‘That’s right - a whole herd of them!’ shouts Sebastian.
‘Monsters, too! Coming to attack the king,’ says Antonio.
‘And an earthquake - I think,’ adds Sebastian.
The courtiers look at each other - and fall for it. Every last lie. They patAntonio and Sebastian on the back - then go deeper into the island tolook for Ferdinand.
Meanwhile…remember the jester, Trinculo, and his mate, Stephano? Onthe other side of the island they’re getting into their own trouble. Stefanofloated ashore on a barrel full of wine. He and Trinculo have alreadydrunk half of it. If they were stupid before, they’re stupid and stupidernow.
They’ve made friends with Caliban, who’s another of Prospero’s magicalservants. Trouble is - Caliban’s half sea-monster and half man…and he’snot the happiest of creatures. He doesn’t like himself much. And he likesProspero even less. He thinks these two idiots are going to be his bestfriends. Especially when they promise to get rid of Prospero.
You see what’s going on? Everyone who lands on this magical islandreveals who they really are - deep down inside. But they don’t know thatProspero is watching their every move…
CALIBAN: Right. Here’s what we’re going to do then. Prospero sleeps every afternoon. Up in his cave. So first we nick his magic book…then we nick hisstaff…then we bonk him on the head. Wallop!
STEPHANO: You may smell like a donkey’s bottom, Caliban, but I do believe you havepotential. We shall take over the island. And I’ll be king. I love it.
TRINCULO: What about Miranda? What do we do with her?
STEPHANO: I shall marry her, I think.
TRINCULO: Very nice!
CALIBAN: And what about all his spirit servants?
STEPHANO: Wallop! Wallop! Wallop!
CALIBAN: Ah - I love you, my master!
STEPHANO: King Stephano! Ha!! I feel a song coming on…
ALL: ‘We’re off to kill the wizard, we’re off to kill the wizard…’
Video summary
Sebastian and Antonio step forward intending to kill King Alonso but Ariel whooshes down and wakes Gonzalo and, realising what's happening, he wakes the king.
A startled King Alonso asks Antonio and Sebastian why they have their knives drawn.
But, ever-cunning Antonio has an explanation, which the king and Gonzalo accept without question.
On the other side of the island, Prospero’s slave-monster, Caliban, meets up with comic duo Stephano and Trinculo, who have come ashore with a barrel of wine.
It’s not long before the barrel is empty and the intoxicated trio are planning to kill Prospero and take over the island.
Prospero, still in his invisibility cloak, sees it all…
Teacher Notes
This series provides various opportunities to meet Key Stage 2 National Curriculum requirements, including study of a significant author, reading techniques such as prediction, drawing inferences, clarification and summary; and drama and writing opportunities - including poetry performance, descriptive writing, persuasive writing, letter writing, newspaper article writing, poetry and play scripts.
It could be used as an introduction to the play, consolidation of key aspects or for revision of the plot and characters.
More detail on how to use this series, including detailed lesson plans, can be found in the Teacher's Notes PDF.
This series is relevant for teaching English at KS2, in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Second Level in Scotland.
Episode 4 - Toledo steel. video
Antonio sees an opportunity - if he can persuade Sebastian to murder King Alonso
Episode 6 - Love song. video
Prospero sets Ferdinand to work. He and Miranda meet... and it's love at first sight.
Episode 7 - Spellbound. video
Prospero has his enemies in his power and plans to publish them for their past actions
