Its believed that The Winter’s Tale was one of the last things Shakespeare wrote before leaving London to return to his native Stratford. It has been defined by many as ‘logically mistaken’ and ‘perposterous’ from critics dating back from the 17^th Century. This is no surprise considering the plot delves in and out of numerous genres from comedy to tragedy through bizarre and incredible events.

The tale follows the irrationally jealous Leontes, who not only tries to poison his best friend, cast aside his faithful wife he also rejects his infant daughter and causes the death of his young son. A ship is sunk, a courtier eaten by a bear and Time makes a personal appearance to skip the action 16 years along. Now, the abandoned princess, raised among shepherds, is wooed at a sheep-shearing party by a prince in disguise who, snooped upon by his father, is forced to flee with his would-be bride to the court of Leontes – where everything works out for the best, including, in a suspension-of-disbelief-defying scene, the return to life of the spurned wife who has been impersonating a statue of herself.

David Farr’s magical production proves those critics wrong and managed to bring the play back to its former glory – through intelligent staging and lighting; atmospheric live music and magnificent acting from the cast – this tragi-comi-romance is possibly one of Shakespeare’s most emotionally complex and breathtakingly theatrical plays, even if you don’t believe a woman can believably impersonate a statue for years on end.

Definitely one to watch.