AFTER the pop-up art space of The Fleeting Arms in Gillygate, York, The Flanagan Collective's Alexander Wright is popping up again, this time 11 miles north of York at his new artistic hub, an 18th century watermill in Stillington.

Leaving behind the decadent, dandy, dance-till-dawn kind of pub theatre that he pioneered in The Great Gatsby last December under the name of The Guild of Misrule, Wright has headed to the country for an outdoor, promenade staging of The Tempest from June 15 to 19.

Shakespeare's final play will weave its way through orchards and around the mill pond in the first production to be housed "At The Mill", where Alexander and his wife Veronica live.

Wright's production marks The Flanagan Collective's first community project, wherein three professional actors from the Gatsby cast, Michael Lambourne, Amie Burns Walker and Holly Beasley-Garrigan, will play Prospero, Ariel and Caliban respectively alongside more than 30 local performers, makers, designers, musicians and crew.

"We moved here to turn this building and the grounds into an art space, so for us it's really important to have the community in the middle of that," says Alexander. "We thought the best way to start was just to start, so we got word out that we would hold workshops and we had no idea if we'd get five or 500. We've ended up with 30."

They range in age from seven to 70. "Some are people we know already; some we don't; some are from the village; some we've met doing other shows like this, such as Alice In Wonderland [York Theatre Royal's On Our Turf project in Easingwold, produced by Alexander]; some have been in community projects in York, like the Mystery Plays," he says.

York Press:

The community company for The Tempest: The Flanagan Collective's first At The Mill production in Stillington

How does The Tempest differ from past shows Holly has performed under Alexander's experimental and imaginative direction? "In the previous work, we've always really acknowledged the audience, and not hidden that relationship," she says. "But in this show, it's different because it's a promenade production, so the more magical characters are aware the audience are there, but others aren't."

Amie adds: "We're not hiding from other things like being outside." In turn, Alexander adds: "The magical world is being weaved by Prospero and so the audience are part of that weave and are asked to sit within the narrative. So that means we can make the magic work within that world."

Leading the company as Prospero, Michael Lambourne says staging The Tempest at The Mill emphasises the way man harnesses nature: "The mill is a symbol of how man uses the resource of water to drive his wheel and gain power. Prospero uses the power of the island – Ariel and Caliban – to 'live' and perform his wants and desires."

In preparing his role, Michael has focused Prospero's "drive and enthusiasm to seize the day". "Though all the pieces are in place he has to finish the game," he says. "He is not arrogant and complacent that his plan will come to pass. Without doubt, there's no drama after all. His plan is not a certainty.

"My main focus is actually that this is a story about his love for his daughter and everything he does is to give her the security and comfort that for these past 12 years he could not offer.

"Once she is safe, every third thought will be of his grave. My Prospero is a cross between Doctor Who and Atticus Finch, futuristic moral realist!"

What a magical prospect that sounds.

The Flanagan Collective presents The Tempest at The Mill, Stillington, near York, from June 15 to 19 at 7pm plus 2pm Saturday and Sunday matinees. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreoyal.co.uk