The 2026 Venice Shakespeare Festival presentsThe Naked Shakes and Prague Shakespeare Company production ofThe Tempestby William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by Irwin AppelChoreographed by Christina McCarthyOriginal Music by Jim Connolly
Lazzaretto Nuovo IslandVenice Lagoon27 July 18:30 (6:30pm) - SOLD OUT - WAITLIST ONLY
Performed in English100 Minutes without an interval
SOLD OUT - WAITLIST ONLY
TICKETS - SUGGESTED DONATION - CASH ONLY:€30 General Admission*
€25 World Shakespeare Congress Attendees*€15 Venetian Residents, Students & Seniors**All Tickets include round-trip boat travel to Lazzaretto Island from Fondamente Nove
Email tempestvenice@gmail.com to make your reservation
Experience Shakespeare’s ultimate tale of magic, isolation, and reconciliation as Prague Shakespeare Company brings The Tempest to life on the historic shores of Lazzaretto Island in the Venetian Lagoon on 27 July. Steeped in centuries of drama, Lazzaretto Island holds a unique place in world history as the birthplace of the modern quarantine system (quarantena), founded by the Venetian Republic in the 15th century as a refuge and buffer between the open sea and the city. In this extraordinary site-specific production, the island’s storied past as a place of isolation and transformation provides the ultimate backdrop for Prospero’s enchanted isle.
As twilight falls over the lagoon, witness a breathtaking evening of romance, spectacle, and live music under the stars. Produced by Naked Shakes and Prague Shakespeare Company, The Tempest is the opening performance of the 2026 Venice Shakespeare Festival. Performed by an acclaimed international ensemble, this unique staging bridges the cultural heritage of Prague and Venice through the timeless power of world-class theater.
Adapted, Directed and Starring Naked Shakes Artistic Director Irwin Appel, The Tempest features an all-star cast of international theatre performers including Julie Fishell, Annie Torsiglieri, Jovanna Heburn, Patrice Francis, Carolyn Johnson and Jim Johnson alongside emerging young professionals from the Prague Shakespeare Company 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive: Alina Ashby, Austin Atencio, Danielle Heflin, McKenna Hilll, Jacob Hise, Hoonur Kaur, Sarah Kondas, Sienna Perez, Kayli Smith, Ash Visker, Andy Walken, Justice Warner, and Andrew Zhang. The production features choreography by Christina McCarthy, Original Music by Jim Connolly, Costume Designs by Chris Vinz, Stage Management and production support from Debs Ramser, Eric Sammons, Olivia Ryan Escobedo, Jacob Siaki, Khuyen Nguyen, Ethan Vettese, and Annelise Miedema.
This project was inspired by an original idea from Professor Shaul Bassi, Ca' Foscari University. Special Thanks to the Lazzaretti Veneziani project, Ekos Club and the Venice Chapter of the Archeoclub d’Italia, Shaul Bassi, Ca'Foscari University
This production is made possible due to the generosity of John and Jody Arnhold, Mark and Mary Maxson, Robert and Barbara Zorich, Libby Appel and the UC Santa Barbara Division of Humanities and Fine Arts From University of California Santa Barbara: UCSB Trustees, Executive Vice Chancellor David Marshall, Humanities and Fine Arts Dean Daina Berry, Nicole Klanfer, Julie Sperling, Brandon Whited, Greg Mitchell, Lauren Marquez, Lisa Strebler, Cori Montgomery, Clea Miller, Jackie Snider and the full company from the 2025 Naked Shakes production of The Tempest. HOW TO GET TO/FROM LAZZARETTO ISLAND - ROUND-TRIP BOAT TRAVEL IS INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION:1.) Meet no later than 17:10 (5:10pm) at FONDAMENTA NOVA and look for signs that read TEMPEST. Admission with suggested cash donation when boarding the boat. After paying, you will recevie your performance program and board the special Tempest Boat for your journey to Lazzaretto Island. The boat will leave FONDAMENTA NOVA promptly at 17:30 (5:30pm). Link to meet point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2RaJdc6HBrkgZMw96 2.) The Tempest Boat will arrive & depart LAZZARETTO NUOVO. Approximate arrival time: 18:00 (6:00pm) & departure time: 20:30 (8:30pm). We ask guests to begin loading on the boat for the return trip at 20:10 (8:10pm). The boat will drop off passengers at FONDAMENTA NOVA. Link to LAZZARETTO NUOVO: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBzJF6q5jcRXuRfn7
This production is made possible due to the generosity of John and Jody Arnhold, Mark and Mary Maxson, Robert and Barbara Zorich, Libby Appel and the UC Santa Barbara Division of Humanities and Fine Arts From University of California Santa Barbara: UCSB Trustees, Executive Vice Chancellor David Marshall, Humanities and Fine Arts Dean Daina Berry, Nicole Klanfer, Julie Sperling, Brandon Whited, Greg Mitchell, Lauren Marquez, Lisa Strebler, Cori Montgomery, Clea Miller, Jackie Snider and the full company from the 2025 Naked Shakes production of The Tempest. HOW TO GET TO/FROM LAZZARETTO ISLAND - ROUND-TRIP BOAT TRAVEL IS INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION:1.) Meet no later than 17:10 (5:10pm) at FONDAMENTA NOVA and look for signs that read TEMPEST. Admission with suggested cash donation when boarding the boat. After paying, you will recevie your performance program and board the special Tempest Boat for your journey to Lazzaretto Island. The boat will leave FONDAMENTA NOVA promptly at 17:30 (5:30pm). Link to meet point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2RaJdc6HBrkgZMw96 2.) The Tempest Boat will arrive & depart LAZZARETTO NUOVO. Approximate arrival time: 18:00 (6:00pm) & departure time: 20:30 (8:30pm). We ask guests to begin loading on the boat for the return trip at 20:10 (8:10pm). The boat will drop off passengers at FONDAMENTA NOVA. Link to LAZZARETTO NUOVO: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBzJF6q5jcRXuRfn7
2026 VENICE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL - UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
The Tempest
Directed by Irwin Appel
27 July 18:30 (6:30pm)
Lazzaretto Nuovo Island, Venice Lagoon
Shakespeare Double-Bill:
Love's Labor's Lost
Directed by Evren Odcikin
&
Hamlet
Directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky
5 August 19:00 (7:00pm)
Teatro a l'Avogaria, Venice
Romeo and Juliet
Directed by Kiara Pipino
6 August 19:00 (7:00pm)
Campo Santa Margherita
Shakespeare Double-Bill:
Twelfth Night
Directed by Kiara Pipino and Guy Roberts
&
Othello
Directed by Rosie Ward
7 August 19:00 (7:00pm)
Palazzo Contarini Della Porta Di Ferro
ALL TICKETS - SUGGESTED DONATION - CASH ONLY:
€30 General Admission*
€25 World Shakespeare Congress Attendees*
€15 Venetian Residents, Students & Seniors*
*All Tickets for The Tempest include round-trip boat travel to Lazzaretto Island from Fondamente Nove
Email tickets@veniceshakespeare.org to make your reservation
