Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

At the opening of The Winter’s Tale, the Sicilian King Leontes and his beloved, pregnant wife, Hermione, try to persuade their dear friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia, to stay longer in their royal court. When Hermione proves more successful in getting Polixenes to remain with them, Leontes quickly spirals into a pit of jealousy, convinced that the two have been having an affair and that his wife is pregnant with a bastard. Polixenes flees the kingdom, but Hermione is put on trial for adultery after giving birth to her daughter in the palace jail. Though the oracle that Hermione calls upon to prove her innocence proclaims her to be virtuous, she collapses with grief upon hearing that her young son, Prince Mamillius, has been murdered. She dies and leaves a repentant Leontes to mourn the ruins of his once perfect life. The second half of the play largely takes place in the Bohemian countryside sixteen years later, where we find Perdita, the long lost daughter of the Sicilian king and queen, living the life of a shepherdess, ignorant of her royalty. There she meets Polixenes’ son, Florizel, disguised as a shepherd, and the two fall in love. Polixenes is enraged when he discovers their secret engagement, and threatens Perdita with death. But the two flee to Sicilia, where Perdita is reunited with Leontes, who has been mourning Hermione’s death all the while. Polixenes follows the young lovers, but when he arrives at court and realizes Perdita’s royal lineage, Sicilia and Bohemia make amends. Shortly after, Paulina, Hermione’s lady in waiting, reveals a statue of Hermione to the royal court. Upon seeing her, Leontes relives his grief anew. But, as if out of the power of his remorse, the statue comes to life and Hermione, Perdita and Leontes embrace as a family once again. Though the shadow of Mamillius’s death lingers, The Winter’s Tale is a story of redemption, that embraces joy over despair.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1611
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
sicilia and bohemia, flexible time period
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Leontes

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Hermione

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Polixenes

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Paulina

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Camillo

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Perdita

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Florizel

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Antigonus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Autolycus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Shepherd

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Clown

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Dion and Cleomenes

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mamillius

Featured

Male

Spoken

Emilia

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Archidamus

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mopsa and Dorcas

Featured

Female

Spoken

Jailer

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Mariner

Ensemble

Male

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress