The Taming of the Shrew Tickets

William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is coming to the Novello Theatre from February to March in 2009. Directed by Conall Morrison, this is one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most controversial comedies exploring marriage and the sexual politics surrounding it. Stephen Boxer of TV’s Doctors appears in the play alongside Michelle Gomez of Channel 4’s comedy Green Wing. The Sunday Times call the play ‘thoroughly enjoyable’ whilst the Daily Mail says that The Taming of the Shrew is ‘Brimming with comic invention’.

Petruchio is a flamboyant man who wishes to marry someone with plenty of money. Enter Kate, whose hands he wins in marriage. It is hoped that his unconventional methods will help in putting a stop to her bad temper and confrontational manner. The title of the play refers to the taming of Kate, ‘The Shrew’. She enjoys life unmarried, without being controlled by another human being. Perhaps Kate has met her match in Petruchio…then again, maybe it’s the other way round.

The Taming of the Shrew was believed to have been written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1594 and has been the subject of much controversy, particularly because of its ‘sexist’ views, meaning it is often labelled misogynistic by feminist groups. Whether this view is true or not, the play has been enjoyed for many centuries, being adapted into many operas and screen versions.

Michelle Gomez plays Kate, the unruly object of Petruchio’s desires. This is Gomez’s first time with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). As well as appearing in Channel 4’s West Wing, she has also appeared on the West End in the production Boeing Boeing at The Comedy Theatre. Petruchio appears in the guise of Stephen Boxer, who returns to the RSC after performing in the 1999 production of Bartholomew Fair. Before that he was in the RSC’s production of Measure for Measure. Most people will know him for playing the role of Dr Joe Fenton in TV’s Doctors. Director Conall Morrison has previously brought us the production of Macbeth in the Swan Theatre in 2007. His other productions include The Bacchae of Baghdad, Hamlet and Tarry Flynn as Associate Artist of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Francis O’Connor provides designs to the play, with costume by Joan O’Clery.

The Taming of the Shrew appears at the Novello Theatre Thursday 12th February 2009 to Saturday 7th March 2009.