Alex Kingston - star of Dr Who, A Discovery of Witches and ER - is to play Prospero in a new staging of The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre next month.

Elizabeth Freestone (former Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company) will make her RST debut directing Shakespeare's elemental tale of survival and forgiveness which shows at the Stratford-upon-Avon venue from 26 January to 4 March.

Set on an island full of strange sounds and wondrous sights, The Tempest is the most spectacular - and final - of Shakespeare's works.

When a royal ship is forced onto the rocks of an enchanted isle, the castaways are separated from one another and find themselves slipping under the control of the mysterious Prospero. Matters are further confused by the presence of supernatural spirit Ariel and the grotesque man-beast, Caliban.

The Tempest shows at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Thursday 26 January until Saturday 4 March. For tickets and further information, visit: rsc.org.uk