The Tempestuous: A Shrew’d New Comedy by Will Shakespeare and Penny Ashton

Award Winning comedian Penny Ashton is back, and this time is skewering the Bard Himself. The brains behind Promise & Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom and Austen Found, Ashton is heading out on her sixth Arts on Tour odyssey in October, sparking 13 characters into life in this Elizabethan tale of magic, meddling and puffed bull’s puzzles.

Sicily’s beloved King Enzo is dead. Now Princess Rosa, a stroppy spinster, must navigate the tempestuous waters of belching Step-Fathers, lusty suitors, popping cod pieces and menopausal witches, to face her destiny.

“Incredibly clever, the script is just so smart.” Radio NZ

“Masterful ‘shrewd comedy’ a tempestuous triumph…a phenomenal play.” The Post

“Surely at some point we get to call Penny Ashton a national treasure?” Flat City Field Notes

“Phenomenal energy, vivacity, versatility, inventiveness and humour." Theatreview

BIOGRAPHY

Penny Ashton has been touring the world for over 20 years, performing over 1000 solo shows. She has sold out from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Mosgiel and has represented New Zealand in Theatresports and performed Slam Poetry at The Glastonbury Festival.

Her award-winning solo musicals Promise and Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom and The Tempestuous have gathered sparkling reviews and happy fans wherever they’ve been performed. In 2023, the Court Theatre presented Ashton’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility to great acclaim, and she went on to direct it in Wellington in 2024, attracting over 5500 people.

Ashton is also an improviser, performance poet, voice over artist, social commentator (including on RNZ’s The Panel), Wedding Celebrant, menopause podcaster with Showy Ovaries, and all-round jazz hand enthusiast.