The Tempest - TNT
12th March

Patrick Stewart's commanding, tetchy Prospero is exiled on an Arctic wasteland of snowy blizzards and shimmering lights in Rupert Goold's visually stunning reinvention of Shakespeare's late play. Here, he plans his revenge and summons spirits — among them Julian Bleach's mesmerising Ariel, who, unusually, is no nimble sprite but a resentful, deathly stalker. Not everything works as well — the comic scenes try too hard to get laughs, and an underpowered Ferdinand makes a disappointing match for his gawkily naïve Miranda. But John Hopkins' plotting Sebastian, Ken Bones' smug usurper and Finbar Lynch's grave, bereaved Alonso give depth to a trio of traitors in a production which sears itself icily into the memory.

LOUISE KINGSLEY