By William Shakespeare
Directed by Helena
Kaut-Howson
28 February – 14 April 2001
Bianca, daughter of the rich merchant Baptista of Padua, is much admired and much sought after. However her father will not allow her to marry until his older daughter, the hard and shrewish Katherina is wed. Petruchio, an adventurer from Verona, undertakes to woo Katherina for her dowry. What could be simpler?
Shakespeare's uproarious comedy is a classic and hot-blooded battle of wits and wills. The story of the tempestuous courtship and fiery path to marriage of Katherina and Petruchio has delighted and provoked audiences for over four hundred years. Full of game-playing, disguises and a raucous zest for life, the play is Shakespeare at his most dazzingly theatrical and profoundly human.
Helena Kaut-Howson's recent work at the Royal Exchange Theatre includes MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION, HINDLE WAKES and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Her latest production for the Theatre promises a 16th century Italy full of carnival, colour and spectacle and a forthright take on this notorious battle of the sexes.
REVIEWS
' TERRIFIC SEXUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN LLOYD HUTCHINSON'S MACHO
PETRUCHIO AND
TANYA RONDER'S SPIRITED KATE…SETS THE NIGHT ALIGHT' The
Telegraph
'her vision…..suggests a Renaissance carnival gatecrashed by
the Veronese
chapter of Hell's Angels….THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE' The
Guardian
'..in one of the funniest and most touching endings of any
Shakespearean
comedy I have seen, the pair run whooping off the stage
together, desperate
to consummate what has at last become a marriage of true minds.'
The
Telegraph
'Vividly and intelligently revived…Lloyd Hutchinson's
hilarious caveman
Petruchio is a Hells Angel on a motorbike…' The Daily Mail
'The spirits of Fellini and Zeffirelli hover above Helena
Kaut-Howson's
spirited production…a bravura evening' The Sunday Times
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
JOSEPH ALESSI - TRANIO
JOHN BRANWELL - BAPTISTA
NICK CAVALIERE - GRUMIO
PETER COLLINS - LUCENTIO
ORLA COTTINGHAM - PLAYER
GUY HARGREAVES - BIONDELLO
LLOYD HUTCHINSON - PETRUCHIO
MARC PARRY - PLAYER
ROBERT PICKAVANCE - PEDANT
SIMON ROBERTS - HORTENSIO
TANYA RONDER - KATHARINA
TOBY SEDGWICK - GREMIO
PHOEBE SOTERIADES - BIANCA
SUSAN TWIST - HOSTESS/WIDOW
DAVID WILLIAMS - VINCENTIO
All other roles to be played by members of the company.
Director: Helena Kaut-Howson
Designer: Johanna Bryant
Movement: Toby Sedgwick
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Steve Brown
Composer: Akintayo Akinbode
Company Manager: Louise Tischler
Stage Manager: Martin Hinkins
Deputy Stage Manager: Lisa Williams
Assistant Stage Manager: Tamara Albachari