The Taming of the Shrew

In a reimagined 1590, England is a matriarchy. Baptista Minola is seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. Cue an explosive battle of the sexes in this electrically-charged love story. Justin Audibert (Snow in Midsummer, The Jew of Malta) turns Shakespeare's fierce, energetic comedy of gender and materialism on its head to offer a fresh perspective on its portrayal of hierarchy and power.

cast
BAPTISTA Minola: AMANDA HARRIS
KATHERINE, her older son: JOSEPH ARKLEY
BIANCO, her younger son: JAMES COONEY
PETRUCHIA, a suitor to Katherine: CLAIRE PRICE
HORTENSIA, a friend of Petruchia and suitor to Bianco: AMELIA DONKOR
GREMIA, a suitor to Bianco: SOPHIE STANTON
LUCENTIA, in love with Bianco: EMILY JOHNSTONE
TRANIA, Lucentia’s servant: LAURA ELSWORTHY
BIONDELLA, Lucentia’s servant: AMY TRIGG
VINCENTIA, Lucentia’s mother, a merchant: MELODY BROWN
GRUMIO, Petruchia’s servant: RICHARD CLEWS
CURTIS, Petruchia’s servant: CHARLOTTE ARROWSMITH
SERVANT, of Petruchia: AARON THIARA
THE PEDANT, a merchant: HANNAH AZUONYE
A WIDOWER: LEO WAN
A TAILOR: MICHAEL PATRICK
AN HABERDASHER: ALEX JONES
SERVANT, of Baptista: ALEXANDER MUSHORE
ALL OTHER PARTS PLAYED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY

creatives
DIRECTOR: JUSTIN AUDIBERT
SET DESIGNER: STEPHEN BRIMSON LEWIS
COSTUME DESIGNER: HANNAH CLARK
LIGHTING DESIGNER: MATT PEEL
COMPOSER: RUTH CHAN
SOUND DESIGNER: CLAIRE WINDSOR
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR: LUCY CULLINGFORD
FIGHT DIRECTORS: RACHEL BOWN-WILLIAMS, RUTH COOPER-BROWN
COMPANY VOICE & TEXT WORK: ANNA McSWEENEY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: LEIGH TONEY
CREATIVE BSL CONSULTANT: BRIAN DUFFY
MUSIC DIRECTOR: LINDSEY MILLER
MUSIC SUPERVISOR: GARETH ELLIS
CASTING DIRECTOR: HANNAH MILLER CDG
PRODUCTION MANAGER: SIMON ASH
COSTUME SUPERVISOR: LAURA RUSHTON
PROPS SUPERVISOR: LAUREN SIMMONDS
COMPANY MANAGER: PIP HOROBIN
STAGE MANAGER: GEORGE HIMS
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER: GABS SANDERS
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: DEBS MACHIN
PRODUCER: ZOË DONEGAN

musicians
MUSIC PLAYED LIVE BY
VIOLIN/VIOLA: CLAIRE TURK
FLUTES/RECORDERS/PERCUSSION/ACCORDION: ADAM CROSS
ELECTRIC GUITAR/ACOUSTIC GUITAR/LUTE: NICK LEE
ELECTRIC BASS/DOUBLE BASS: AYSE OSMAN
PERCUSSION: KEVIN WATERMAN
KEYBOARD: LINDSEY MILLER

The first performance of this production took place on 8 March 2019 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.