The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Sexey's School perform The Tempest
Sexey’s school put on a Shakespearian production.
From the collection of:
Overview
Pupils from Sexey’s school perform and are filmed in a production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Founded in 1889 Sexey’s School in Bruton Somerset is named after Hugh Sexey who was appointed Royal auditor to Elizabeth I in 1599. In 1898 the school moved from its temporary premises on Quaperlake Street to its modern day site in 1898 and for many years it operated as a grammar school. Sexey’s is one of the largest co-educational state boarding schools in the country.
The play is thought to have been written in 1610-11 and is set on a remote island. The sorcerer and rightful Duke of Milan Prospero conjures up the tempest to restore his daughter Miranda to her place at court. The tempest brings to the island the scheming King of Naples Alonso, his son Ferdinand who falls instantly for Prospero’s daughter Miranda, his brother Sebastian and the usurper and Prospero’s brother the Duke of Milan, Antonio. Three plots unfurl; Caliban a deformed monster raised by Prospero who falls in with two drunkards Stephano and Trinculo; a love affair between Ferdinand and Miranda; and a conspiracy by Antonio and Sebastian to kill Alonso and Gonzalo thwarted by the spirit Ariel.
Related
Watch for free
Hamlet Hamlet
Drama 1913 54 mins Silent
Johnston Forbes-Roberston gives his famous performance of Hamlet in this ambitious early Shakespeare feature
Currently unavailable
Next Next
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1989 5 mins
Two virtuoso performances in one – Shakespeare's complete works presented in puppet form by a master of animation
Watch for free
Introduction to Silent Shakespeare Introduction to Silent Shakespeare
Short documentary 2016 9 mins
Discover why filmmakers in the silent era turned to the works of William Shakespeare for inspiration.
Watch for free
Leonard Whiting Olivia Hussey Leonard Whiting Olivia Hussey
Inside Film 1967 16 mins
Teenage actors discuss their work with Franco Zeffirelli on Romeo and Juliet.
Watch for free
Twelfth Night Twelfth Night
Comedy 1910 11 mins Silent
Vitagraph’s charming 1910 interpretation features some notably lively performances.
Watch for free
Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting Q&A for Shakespeare Lives Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting Q&A for Shakespeare Lives
Inside Film 2016 31 mins
The stars of Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet are reunited on stage for the first time since 1968 as part of the BFI and British Council’s Shakespeare on Film.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.