# The Tempest — Heuristic Shakespeare > Interactive Shakespearean play analysis tool with expert commentary and historical context. (iPhone/iPad app by HEURISTIC SHAKESPEARE LIMITED.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tempest/id1099176816 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [HEURISTIC SHAKESPEARE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099176815) - Category: Education, Lifestyle - Price: $5.99 - Rating: 4.90/5 from 52 App Store ratings · 44 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 222 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-04-21 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tempest/id1099176816/reviews.md ## What is The Tempest? *****APPLE'S 10 BEST APPS Of OF 2016***** The Tempest from Heuristic Shakespeare is the first in a collection of thirty-seven separate apps. Each app is a tool for demystifying one of Shakespeare’s plays and making it more accessible to a modern audience. Sir Ian McKellen and Professor Sir Jonathan Bate take us on journey of discovery using the world-famous Arden Shakespeare texts and their extensive essays and notes. The apps function is to provide an essential aid to understanding and enjoying the plays in the theatre or on the screen. The Heuristic Shakespeare collection was created for you, whether you are studying Shakespeare for the first time, preparing for an exam, a Shakespearean scholar, or just keen to have a better understanding of his work. Shakespeare wrote his plays to be seen and heard, not read. Heuristic Shakespeare apps put you face to face with the characters at the heart of each play. It makes his language and references easily accessible and helps you to understand each play from the inside out. Each app has three discreet levels of complexity so you can access the information that best suits your needs. Our first app, The Tempest, features a cast of professional Shakespearean actors performing the play in a one-to-one relationship with you, the app user. It also contains the following: The full text of The Tempest as published in the First Folio. A full digital version of Arden Shakespeare The Tempest. The ability to switch between three different levels of notes depending on the level of reader’s needs. A full breakdown and explanation of every character and all of their lines across every scene. A linked historical time line of Shakespeare's life, his plays, his theatres, and contemporary context to put it all into perspective. Video explanations and discussions by both Sir Ian McKellen and Professor Sir Jonathan Bate on characters, themes, and the meaning of the play. A full “play at a glance” with illustrations and summaries to explain the play’s plot with key quotes and events. A history of all the major productions of The Tempest from the 17th century to the present day. The option to make notes, copy and highlight text that can be collected, correlated and exported for later use. The option to search the play’s full text and essays. (With all scene videos downloaded the app will take up approximately 2 Gb of space on your iPad.) ## Key features - Expert video explanations - Full play text with notes - Character and line breakdown - Historical timeline - Production history - Note-taking and export ## Recent user reviews (10 of 44) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tempest/id1099176816/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Terrific job, more plays please!!! *2023-02-03, version 1.1.1* I’m revisiting the play and looking at this wonderful app again. I only wish they had continued with the series! ### 5/5 — incredible resource *2020-08-29, version 1.1.0* truly outstanding, a scholar’s delight ### 5/5 — Awesome Performance and Immersion of Shakespeare! *2020-04-21, version 1.1.0* Please do another play like this and create another app! Please ! ### 5/5 — The digital equivalent of Oxford's new critical edition *2019-10-10, version 1.0.8* The only thing that this app might improve is the download experience. It is a little buggy and I wish there is an option for audio only, not that I don't enjoy seeing Derek Jacobi and Ian Mckellen reading out loud though. I mean seriously. How is this app not topping the charts. Please publish the rest of the plays ASAP. ### 5/5 — One of my all time favorites *2018-08-31, version 1.0.8* I admit that The Tempest was one of Shakespeare’s works with which I was least familiar but I had such a delightful time rediscovering and becoming MUCH better acquainted with this wonderful play. Now for God’s sake please give us the next app! ### 5/5 — Brilliant *2018-05-28, version 1.0.8* Sophisticated and feature rich. Really blown away by the multi-layer flexibility, start and stop anywhere, probe deeper into the characters when you want to, interpretations and definitions when you need them. Very well thought out and executed. ### 5/5 — Much needed for this generation’s students of Shakespeare *2018-01-08, version 1.0.6* Most of us have had to read one or two of Shakespeare’s plays in high school. But the problem was that Shakespeare was the last thing we were thinking about. The difficulty of language was a turn off, teachers themselves were not experts in the writing either, so what was the relevance to us? But I think Shakespeare is better appreciated when you have accumulated more personal experience meeting people and delving into some current affairs. I found Shakespeare a more pleasurable experience trying to learn it on my own free time and that is where this app really helps. It has annotations for the entire Tempest play and recorded voice work. So in addition to reading, you get to really ‘listen’ to the words and the different pronunciations. Through this app, it made me confident to say that although Shakespeare is difficult, it does not mean that it can’t be fun. If you take the time and take a leap of faith with this app, I promise that you will have a better appreciation of Shakespeare and create an approachable and optimistic view of classic literature. ### 5/5 — The best *2017-11-23, version 1.0.6* No other Shakespeare app comes close. When is the next one coming out? ### 5/5 — Magnificent App!! *2017-11-12, version 1.0.6* Words would fail even the Bard himself in praising this app. It is excellent for the average reader, the student, the actor and the experienced Shakespeare scholar. I've used it for classes in Shakespeare, preparing to act a part in the Tempest, and for just plain fun. Please do more like this. ### 2/5 — Great ... when it works *2017-11-08, version 1.0.6* Inventive, detailed app, BUT I can’t download Act 1 Scene 2. I’ve tried numerous times, without success. The first scene downloaded without problem, but not the second. I think there’s a bug lurking in there somewhere. ## Frequently asked questions about The Tempest ### What does The Tempest app do? This app serves as a tool to demystify Shakespeare's play, 'The Tempest,' making it more accessible to a modern audience. It provides expert insights, detailed textual analysis, and historical context to enhance understanding and enjoyment of the play. ### What are the key features of The Tempest app? Key features include the full text of 'The Tempest' from the First Folio, a digital version of the Arden Shakespeare edition, character and line breakdowns, a historical timeline of Shakespeare's life, video explanations by experts, and a history of major productions. ### How much does The Tempest app cost? The app is a paid application, meaning there is an upfront cost to download and use it. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the description. ### Who is this app for? This app is designed for a broad audience, including those studying Shakespeare for the first time, preparing for exams, Shakespearean scholars, and anyone keen to gain a better understanding of his work. ### Can I use this app to take notes? Yes, the app offers the option to make notes, copy, and highlight text. These notes can be collected, correlated, and exported for later use, aiding in study and analysis. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.1 — 2020-09-16 Fixed a bug with dark Mode. ### 1.1.0 — 2020-03-26 Fixed bug with external links ### 1.0.9 — 2020-01-30 Fixe3d bug in iOS 13 that prevented selection of text. ### 1.0.8 — 2018-03-07 Compatibility fix. ### 1.0.7 — 2018-01-09 Fixed bug where videos could not be closed. ## Apps similar to The Tempest | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [PaleoEarth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paleoearth/id1358958723) | 5.0 (7) | $1.99 | Education | | [Helm: News Without the Noise](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helm-news-without-the-noise/id6447474845) | 4.8 (9) | Free | Education | | [Back in Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/back-in-time/id450345693) | 4.6 (25) | $7.99 | Education | | [My Car – Mechanics for Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-car-mechanics-for-kids/id892318081) | — | $2.99 | Education | | [Amal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amal/id1454022612) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [KankenToNews](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kankentonews/id1449966937) | — | Free | Education | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*