Prospero is the overthrown Duke of Milan and a highly educated sorcerer who has lived in exile on a remote island for twelve years. Deeply devoted to his daughter Miranda, he spends his time mastering magical arts and commanding the island's indigenous spirits. He possesses a determined demeanor and is willing to use harsh methods as he orchestrates events to restore his rightful political position.

Ariel is an ethereal spirit indigenous to the island who can change shape and become invisible. Previously trapped in a tree by the witch Sycorax, Ariel was freed by Prospero only to be bound into his service. Eager for freedom, Ariel executes Prospero's commands with precise skill and a cheerful, sometimes mischievous energy.

Miranda is Prospero's teenage daughter, having lived on the isolated island since she was three years old. Educated entirely by her father, she possesses a keen intelligence and deep empathy, though she remains entirely naive about the outside world. Having seen almost no other humans, her encounter with the shipwreck survivors awakens new romantic and social curiosities.

Caliban is a native inhabitant of the island and the son of the deceased witch Sycorax. Deformed in physical appearance but capable of speaking eloquent English verse, he resents Prospero for claiming ownership of the island and enslaving him. He performs hard physical labor under the threat of magical punishment, maintaining a rebellious and angry spirit.

Alonso is the King of Naples who recently married his daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis. The disastrous return voyage leaves him shipwrecked and convinced that his son Ferdinand has drowned. Weighed down by grief and fatigue, he wanders the island vulnerable to both the elements and the political plotting of his own court.

Antonio is the current Duke of Milan, having usurped the title from his brother Prospero twelve years prior. Ruthless and deeply ambitious, he shows no remorse for his past actions and quickly looks for new ways to consolidate power. Even stranded on a deserted island, he searches for political leverage and weaknesses in those around him.

Ferdinand is the son of King Alonso and heir to the throne of Naples. Separated from the rest of the royal court during the shipwreck, he assumes he is the sole survivor. Upon encountering Miranda, he immediately falls in love and submits to Prospero's strict tests of character to prove his honorable intentions.

Trinculo is the court jester to King Alonso of Naples. Surviving the shipwreck, he stumbles across the island's strange inhabitants and quickly uses humor to process his fear. He joins forces with Stephano but frequently finds himself the target of both Caliban's insults and the island's magical tricks.

Stephano is the wine and liquor butler for King Alonso's court. Having survived the tempest by riding a barrel of wine to shore, he uses his alcohol to self-soothe and quickly establish dominance over Caliban. He readily embraces delusions of grandeur, imagining himself as the island's potential new ruler.

Sebastian is King Alonso's brother. He exhibits a cynical, complaining nature, quick to blame Alonso for the shipwreck because of the unpopular marriage in Tunis. While not inherently a mastermind, he is weak-willed and easily swayed by Antonio's dark suggestions regarding the royal succession.

Gonzalo is an elderly and talkative counselor known for his fundamental decency. He maintains a surprisingly positive outlook despite the shipwreck, dreaming up utopian societies to distract the grieving King Alonso. His gentle nature sharply contrasts with the cynical plotting of the younger nobles around him.

The Boatswain is a tough-minded, capable mariner in charge of the ship's crew. During the crisis at sea, he prioritizes survival over social hierarchy, bluntly ordering the panicked nobility out of his way. His practical focus highlights the uselessness of royal titles in the face of nature's wrath.

Sycorax is a powerful, deceased witch who ruled the island before Prospero's arrival. Banished from her homeland, she used dark magic to torment the island's spirits, imprisoning Ariel in a pine tree for refusing her commands. Though she never appears on stage, her legacy heavily influences the current power dynamics on the island.

Adrian is a lord in King Alonso's court. He attempts to find the positive aspects of the island, agreeing with Gonzalo's optimistic assessments regarding its climate and habitability, even as the more cynical nobles mock them both.