The play opens in Sicilia, where the King, Leontes, is trying to persuade his childhood friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia, to extend his visit. Polixenes has been in Sicilia for nine months and feels he must return home but Leontes calls on his pregnant wife, Hermione, to entreat Polixenes to stay. When she succeeds Leontes is convinced she is having an affair with Polixenes and in a jealous rage orders Camillo, a trusted servant, to murder him. Horrified by the King’s command Camillo helps Polixenes to escape and they both return to Bohemia.

Leontes takes the departure of Polixenes as further proof of his guilt and is now certain that Hermione is pregnant with his child. Enraged he imprisons his wife where she gives birth to a girl. He then sends messengers to Delphos to bring word from the Oracle to confirm Hermione’s adultery. Meanwhile, he orders that the baby is taken out to sea, and left to die on a deserted shore.

At her trial Hermione begs Leontes to heed the word of the Oracle. The messengers arrive back from Delphos bearing the proclamation that, 'Hermione is innocent, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, and the King shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found'.

Upon hearing of his mother‘s trial, their son, Prince Mamillius, dies. Grief stricken, Hermione collapses and feeling some pity for his wife Leontes asks Paulina to attend her. Paulina returns moments later to say that Hermione too is dead. On hearing this, the jealous spell is finally broken. Realising what he has done, Leontes sinks into a state of remorse and despair. Meanwhile, as instructed, a courtier abandons Hermione’s newborn baby on the shore of an unknown land. However, before he can return to his ship a bear eats him. Shortly afterwards an old shepherd and his son, a clown, find the abandoned baby.

Sixteen years later in Bohemia, Polixenes is concerned about the whereabouts of his son, Prince Florizel. He and Camillo, who has remained with the Bohemian King, go in disguise to find the young prince.

At a sheep-shearing festival, amid much celebration, Polixenes discovers his son is in love with Perdita, a young shepherdess, and that they plan to marry. Furious, he orders the death of the girl’s father, the old shepherd, and punishment for Florizel and Perdita. Once again, Camillo comes to the rescue and helps the young couple to escape to Sicilia.

Upon their arrival they are welcomed by Leontes, who does not recognise Perdita as the child he banished sixteen years ago. Shortly afterwards, Polixenes arrives and when the two Kings meet the past is forgotten and they are reconciled. Perdita’s true identity is revealed, and as a Princess she can now marry Prince Florizel.

Perdita is told of the sad fate of her mother and together the group visit a statue that Paulina has commissioned to commemorate Hermione. Suddenly, the statue begins to stir, it is the real Hermione and Leontes is reunited with his wife, daughter and best friend.