This past Saturday, March 18, my Shakespeare class ventured to the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles to be immersed into the world of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

Though my classmates and I had no idea what to expect out of the “immersive” experience, we were familiar with one thing—the plot. According to Folger Shakespeare Library, the play follows “…a magician, Prospero, a former duke of Milan who was displaced by his treacherous brother, Antonio. Prospero is exiled on an island, where his only companions are his daughter, Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the monster Caliban. When his enemies are among those caught in a storm near the island, Prospero turns his power upon them through Ariel and other spirits.”

Ok, so…island, magician, spirits, monster, storm, and shipwreck… There are so many elements to the play that the Shakespeare Center could have used to truly immerse the audience, and, in my opinion, they pulled off nearly every single one and made the immersive experience tasteful, exciting, and pleasant for our whole Shakespeare class. From the ship crew asking us if we enjoyed dancing the night away at the King of Tunis’ wedding, the intricate carvings in Caliban’s mossy cave, to the wooden, run-down shack that was Prospero’s house, the incorporation of the small details of the play into the experience was STUPENDOUS.

But, don’t take it from me, take it from my fellow classmates AND the Shakespeare wiz himself, Mr. Chavez.

Fellow member of the class Julia Clarke ’23 revealed her take on the unique, immersive experience: “I really enjoyed the show. I thought it was a new way to experience a play and understand the class material. My favorite part was definitely the beginning during the shipwreck scene. The lighting was super cool, and the room really looked like the inside of a ship. I had a really great time!”

Senior Sarah Ybarra shared similar sentiments about the trip to Prospero’s island: “I thought the play was really cool, and it really did immerse you into the world of “The Tempest.” My favorite part was probably the characters talking to us as if we were a part of the storyline and how the actors were able to use the whole room to add to the immersion.”

And finally, Shakespeare enthusiast Mr. Chavez discussed what he thought about the play overall: “This was a really great performance. I was impressed with the way in which the production immediately pushed the audience into the story as an experience rather than just walking into an auditorium and taking your seat. Having the first scene take place in the lobby when people are just getting into the space was a distinct take on the play that I think made it more enjoyable.”

He later added what his favorite part of the play was and how he thinks this experience will benefit the class as we continue to explore Shakespeare’s works: “I think it had to be the immersive quality of it. Although I personally would have liked to have more of this, I see what the producers were trying to do with the play. It’s Shakespeare, so it’s already not the easiest thing for a 21st-century audience to get into. So, to have the players be so directly involved with the audience was a refreshing take on the show. I’ve always said, and will always say, that it is impossible to get a full understanding of any play by just reading it. It’s not meant to be read, it’s meant to be performed. Shakespearean plays in particular are meant to be emoted by actors who know their craft and know how to find the rhythm of the lines that he wrote. Yes, it’s poetry, but it’s dramatic poetry.  Ultimately, reading a play without seeing it performed is only giving you partial understanding.”

If you still need a bit of help visualizing the wonder of the immersive experience in its fullness, take a look at the pictures throughout the article to get a glimpse of Prospero’s island yourself! “The Tempest: An Immersive Experience” runs at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles until April 16. For more information on the experience and tickets, you can visit this link: https://www.shakespearecenter.org/the-tempest