The Winter's Tale: 10 Fun Facts

A play filled with contrast, The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s later and lesser-known plays. Balancing themes of jealousy and love, betrayal and redemption, and the opposing worlds of Sicilia and Bohemia, Director Carolyn Howarth urges audience members to not be afraid of this play.

“I realize it’s not a Romeo and Juliet, but these lesser known titles bring so much substance, and they’re such a delight,” Howarth said. “They’re so deep and thick and rich with drama and humor. It’s going to be a gorgeous show.”

Before The Winter’s Tale hits the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre stage this summer, read on to learn more and learn what makes our production of this Shakespeare play unique.

1. This is the Festival’s sixth production of the play. The Winter’s Tale was also produced here in 1972, 1989, 1996, 2004, and 2011.

2. Howarth is making her directorial debut at the Festival this season. “I’m so excited to be at the Festival; it’s been on my bucket list,” Howarth said.

3. This Shakespeare play is close to Howarth’s heart, as it was one of the very first plays she acted in at the start of her professional career.

   

4. The play is full of contrast. Howarth notes that it’s part fairytale, part fact in that it takes place in the court of Sicilia and then the idyllic world of Bohemia. Howarth encourages audience members to look for these “fairytale moments” scattered throughout the play.

5. The play has many mythological references. One is its basic structure which reflects the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades in using the cycle of winter and summer to propel the sorrow and joy. Another is the use of Apollo’s oracle to determine Hermione’s guilt.

6. Speaking of Hermione, Melinda Pfundstein, who is directing Silent Sky this season, played this role in the 2011 production.

7. The Winter’s Tale was one of Shakespeare’s last plays.

8. The plot was based off of Pandosto, written in 1588 by Robert Greene, who was considered Shakespeare’s most successful predecessor within the realm of blank-verse romantic comedy.

   

9. The play was written in five acts. Some critics, including W.W. Lawrence, consider this a problem play because of the juxtaposition between the acts, with the first three being intensely dramatic and the last two filled with humor and a happy ending.

10. The Winter’s Tale spans a timeframe of sixteen years. Howarth noted one of the challenges of directing this play is that like many of Shakespeare’s others: it’s such a big play.

It’s not too early to purchase tickets! Visit here to make your purchase and for more information about the play. Don’t miss out on our study guide, where you can find a play synopsis, character summaries, and several articles on the play.