Synopsis 

Leontes, King of Sicilia, suspects his pregnant wife, Hermione, of having an affair with his childhood friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia. When he finds out that Leontes is plotting his murder, Polixenes escapes, accompanied by Camillo, Leontes' courtier.

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Queen Hermione is arrested and gives birth to a daughter in prison. Her lady -in -waiting, Paulina, tries to persuade Leontes to accept the child as his own. Leontes refuses, and orders a servant, Antigonus, to abandon the baby girl somewhere far away. 

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Leontes finds Hermione guilty of treason. Leontes’ son Mamillius dies of grief and when Leontes hears from Paulina, her lady in waiting, that the Queen has also died, he is overcome with remorse.

 Antigonus lands in Bohemia where he leaves the baby girl, Perdita, to her fate. The baby is found by a shepherd and her son, along with gold and other treasures. The pair raise her as their own child.

Sixteen years go by. Perdita has met and fallen in love with Prince Florizel, Polixenes' son. The couple declare their intention to marry, watched by Polixenes and Camillo in disguise. Polixenes angrily reveals himself and forbids his son to marry a shepherd's daughter.

Assisted by Camillo, Florizel and Perdita flee to Sicilia where they receive a sympathetic welcome from Leontes. The shepherd and son, egged on by a trickster: Autolycus, follow them to Sicilia with the items that will prove Perdita's real identity. Leontes is reunited with his long lost daughter and then learns that Polixenes has pursued the young couple to Sicilia.

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 Leontes, continues to grieve for his lost wife. Paulina reveals a surprise for him: a statue of Hermione which has been a long time in the making. Leontes is amazed by its lifelike quality and resemblance to Hermione and is filled with wonder and longing.