BOAT 
Canford School, Wimborne
Michelle Barter
04 August 2026
When I was asked to review BOAT I jumped at the chance having travelled across the sea with my friends and family to devotedly watch The Bard being performed by a top notch amateur theatre production house year upon year. This year sees The Tempest being performed on what looks like a shipwrecked boat, but without us having to risk an actual tempest by getting on a boat. Now housed at Canford School Wimborne, travelling to this particular spot is now slightly easier. Canford School reminds me of a sprawling village in itself, therefore the high vis wearing parking attendants were a most welcome sight and jolly helpful they were too. In a slight change from last year, the entrance has moved down the road from the posh gatehouse and someone was there to guide me through every twist and turn. Picnic spots aplenty, I enjoyed my chai tea and cake with other theatre minded friends; there is a van selling delicious things and hot drinks and soft drinks were on offer to purchase if needed along with interval ice creams.
The auditorium is set with tiered seating rather than picnic chair flat surface where fighting for the prime space is the norm. You are instantly greeted with, dashed upon the rocks, split wood from the ship wreck and cleverly lit with some dramatic and wonderful use of the tree line behind the set; this really comes into it’s own in the second act when darkness falls. There are little clamber spots, ropes and hatches for use of the actors and a second level making use of every last inch of space; simple but beautiful, I thought.
The play starts off in a storm pulled up by Prospero (Tim Fearon) a dark magician with anger as his power. Watching Tim is like watching a master class in the use of voice, he uses his tone and vocal power with ease and is a very commanding figure on stage who doesn’t hurry or need to use huge gestures to put his point across. His enslaved spirit Ariel (Phillippa Hendry) has a beautiful voice for both speech and song, clear as a bell and nimble as a nymph; she is the personification of that spirit. Miranda, played sweetly by Jess Allen, was the dutiful daughter who has been trapped on the island with dad, Prospero, and has never seen another man except for Caliban, who is called all sorts of nasty names and been enslaved by wicked Prospero. Sam Goodman doesn’t spend much time in an upright position, so low is this monster cast.
The storm had wrecked a boat which conveniently contained some men Prospero was annoyed at and required a little word with, magic and misunderstanding all part of Shakespeare’s classics and so across the island troops Stuart Glossop as Antonio, Paul Nield as Gonzalo, Sam Sheppard as Alonso and Beau Gater as Sebastian, noble men all who plot against one another to flight for power. One of their parties is presumed dead, the son who was set to inherit another kingdom (keep up), Ferdinand played by Eden Hunt who washes up at the feet of a very excited Miranda! Meanwhile the boat that has been carrying barrels of wine has washed up two drunks, the comedians of the piece, Karthika Sreekala (Stephano) and Marie Bushell (Trinculo), these two caused a storm of their own with their capers across the stage and bursting straight through the fourth wall. The audience were up for a bit of comedy, but to be fair we also laughed when the ‘lush green grass’ of the island was described!
The whole play was driven by Ariels’ sprites played by Eleanor Lockheart, Shannon Wilkinson, Sarah Dexter, Victoria Turvey-Neave, Mojola Obadofin, Lynda Honeybourne Biles and Matt Allen who all took part in some magical scenes; I loved the wedding scene in particular. And let’s not forget the Boatswain, played by Seth Vanek Martin, a small but very important role. The production featured a truly wonderful cast who all deserve to feel proud of their achievements alongside what must be a very proud director, Brian Woolton; thank you for a magical evening.
Whilst the weather has been playing with us, come seek your revenge by watching The Tempest; bring something warm though, as I had to wear something called a jumper I found in the back of my wardrobe! Bring your friends and food; the song and dance are provided, so don’t miss out.
