Summary

Hag-Seed is a modern day retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare which updates the themes and some of the plot from the original play to take place in contemporary Canada, where theatre director Felix is fired from his role as Artistic Director at a small-town theatre festival after the devious plotting of his employee Tony. Exiled from the theatrical world, Felix plots his revenge while teaching drama in a prison.

The novel begins with the Prologue entitled “Screening,” and it takes place in March 2013. The Prologue details a section from a performance of The Tempest, featuring some words and phrases from the original play as well as modern day language and stage directions. A storm destroys a boat and the sailors on board panic, before the performance is interrupted by a power cut that alarms the audience. Shots are fired and...