Hag-Seed: William Shakespeare's The Tempest Retold

The date is January 7, 2013. Felix meets with Estelle, who tells him that two ministers will be attending the screening of his play after hearing about the success of his Shakespeare program: Justice Minister Sal O’Nally and a newcomer to politics, Tony. Felix decides that the 2013 play will be The Tempest. Felix assures Estelle that the play will be beneficial for the students because it’s about prison, though he leaves out the theme of revenge.

Felix chats with the prison guards. He tells them the next play will be The Tempest and there will be plenty of revenge and metaphorical fights.

Felix avoids the other teachers and prison-rights activists that visit the prison. They have already questioned the value of his program, preferring real-world practical skills and therapy for the prisoners. They worry that Felix uses the prisoners as an experiment in Shakespearean studies. Felix admires his theater of cold cement and bars.