BRITISH actor and musician Anthony Head has been tapped to play the lead in the theatrical production of William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, which is slated to open during the Bermuda Festival of Performing Arts this February.

Mr. Head has a long career in theatre and television, including the role of Rupert Giles in the Emmy-Award Winning American cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997. Most recently, he appeared in the 4th series of the British hit sitcom My Family and was featured as the Prime Minister in the popular BBC comedy sketch show Little Britain from 2003 to 2005. In The Tempest, Mr. Head was cast as Prospero, the lead in the play and gives what is considered to be one of the most memorable speeches in Shakespearean literature.

"I'm hugely excited about playing Prospero in this production," said Mr. Head. "It's an honour to be asked, and I'm joining a long list of very distinguished actors who have played the role before me. The historical nature of this production of The Tempest gives the challenge of playing him an extra sense of occasion - an added frisson. I can't wait."

The Festival will culminate with four performances of the play, which is believed to be inspired by the wreck of the Sea Venture - the original ship that wrecked in Bermuda and essentially founded the town of St. George. Directed by Bermudian Joel Froomkin, the large-scale production was cast in New York and promises to have strong Bermudian imagery that will illuminate and enhance what is considered to be one of Shakespeare's finest works.

Mr. Froomkin spoke exclusively with the Mid-Ocean News reporter Lindsay Kelly about what Mr. Head brings to the role of Prospero and what audiences can expect of this large-scale professional production.

Q. What can audiences expect with having Anthony Head in the role of Prospero?

A. Anthony is a very passionate classical actor. He was immediately excited about tackling the role, and he brings a great exuberance and enthusiasm to the project. Although we don't start rehearsals for another few weeks, he and I are in contact every day discussing the character, relationships and our particular vision of the play. Although the story is primarily thought of as a story of revenge, Anthony and I both feel that what truly drives Prospero is his total dedication to his daughter. He feels he has to provide a future for her - he realises he is getting older - he says "every third thought shall be my death" and he is well aware that he cannot bear the thought of Miranda being left alone on the island if anything should happen to him.

She faces a dangerous threat in the form of Caliban and he wants, at all costs, to find a safe haven for her. Anthony, in real life, is a devoted father - and I think that will really show through in his performance. He also has great wit - and I think people miss how sharp Prospero's sense of humor can be. I also like that he's younger than many who take on the part - after all Prospero is the father of a 16-year-old girl. So it troubles me when the role is played by someone who should be Miranda's grandfather.

Q. What does Anthony bring to the role?

A. Obviously, Anthony has a vast amount of experience and has forged a career, working in the realm of fantasy.

The magical elements of the play are a challenge and can be hard to root in truth and reality for any actor - and Tony and I have been chucking that after all he's had to do on television (battle vampires, command Merlin and try to destroy Dr. Who) conjuring spirits seems like a normal day at the office! The experience - and joy - he finds in that kind of work will really bring a grounded honesty to the character's magical pursuits. Also, Prospero is often approached as a kind of pre-cursor to Lear and that's not how either of us see him.

This man isn't a warrior. He isn't a nation builder or an enigmatic leader.

He is an academic, social recluse who is far happier in a library than wielding a sword. A ruler of such a gentle disposition in the Renaissance world was in danger of being considered weak - and Prospero knew that other nations were eyeing his kingdom.

Tony and I think he becomes obsessed with the study of alchemy, the occult and magic as a way of trying to level the playing field against a more physically imposing enemy.

If he can't protect his country with brawn, he wanted to do it with his brain. Great fictional magicians are never imposing physical specimens, like Merlin and Dumbledore, these are men who had to turn to their cerebral gifts to protect and defend themselves and their loved ones.

And Anthony has a very wise, bookish nature while still being wonderfully enigmatic - which is why critics adored his performance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Q. When do rehearsals start?

A. The first official day of rehearsals will be the 1st of February in the New York. I can't wait. The designers and my co-producer and the Festival and I have been working so hard for so long to bringing together the various elements of the production that it's going to be exciting to finally start breathing life into the words. The Tempest has truly become a complex co-ordination effort between London, New York, Bermuda and Indiana (where my producing partner and I run a theatre company) - and I actually will be thrilled when I can stop the planning stages and show up at the rehearsal room from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and really do it. I will say some of the more extreme characters like Caliban and Ariel and I have already done some preliminary work together because their roles are so physically and vocally demanding. Skype (software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet) has been a godsend - we've been rehearsing stuff via laptop!

Q. Any other well-known actors in the play?

A. The rest of the company is made up of some of the finest classical actors working in the U.S. Our Caliban, Carman Lacivita appeared last week in the television broadcast of the Broadway production of Cyrano with Kevin Kline.

Our Trinculo, Tom Beckett was in the mini-series John Adams which swept the Golden Globe Awards. Kelly McCreary, who plays Miranda, was just on Broadway in a wonderful show called Passing Strange. Our Gonzalo, Joe Sicari, has performed Shakespeare with Anthony Hopkins. It's a very large and wonderful group.

Q. Being a Bermudian, how do you feel about bringing this particular production to life here in Bermuda during its 400th year anniversary?

A. It was an honour to be asked and I was delighted that the Festival wanted me to return to direct, especially on a piece with such rich local roots. It is a huge undertaking - an epic piece with great staging challenges - so at first it was a little daunting.

The Festival really wanted a first-class professional production - so we worked hard to assemble a team that we will hope will bring that wish to fruition. Since I'm aware that the play had been performed on the island before, I kept asking myself what could I bring to The Tempest that made the piece worth revisiting, particularly this year.

Almost every design decision has been specifically rooted in our desire to speak to the Bermuda audience and make them feel that it is a gift for them.

There will be a lot of visual things, which no other audience would appreciate quite the same way. Our projection designer is using powerful theatrical projectors to create a world of textures and colours unique to the island.

And, I've been trying to read everything I can get my hands on about the experience of the Sea Venture shipwreck. The details can get a little maddening - to have to email the sound designer: "sorry, kiskadees weren't introduced until 1957".

Sometimes you have to use artistic license. Of course, The Tempest is entirely a fantasy - based in no way on true characters or fact - but we're trying very hard to root the visceral experience of these fictional marooned nobles in the factual truth of the Sea Venture passengers. It certainly has been a labour of love - and the goodwill that I've found for the project has been fantastic.

The actors feel like they're doing Hamlet in Denmark - they are thrilled.

And everyone on the island has been so helpful; it's clear that people really want to help make this event special.