The Taming of the Shrew
Barbican Centre · 05 NOV - 18 JAN
The ultimate battle of the sexes is turned on its head in this ‘deftly provocative and exuberantly entertaining’ (The Times) production in which the 1590s are reimagined – with women in charge.
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Overview
In this radical take on Shakespeare’s fierce and energetic comedy of gender, Baptista Minola is seeking to marry off her two sons, the sweet-tempered Bianco and the rebellious Katherine. Cue an explosive courtship and a keenly witty portrayal of hierarchy and control.
Taking inspiration from the novel The Power by Naomi Alderman, Justin Audibert directs a revelatory The Taming of the Shrew, set in a matriarchal world, with sumptuous Elizabethan costumes.
Critic reviews
Having seen numerous Shakespeare plays performed live, hearing the audience laugh constantly throughout both acts, was a new and wonderful experience
Those familiar with the play may find this production amusing, but those who are not familiar with it, may not be enlightened
The role-reversal conceit leaves you weary
Taming Of The Shrew For The Woke Generation
A gender-swap doesn’t fix the problems posed by Shakespeare’s play
This gender-swapped ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ only exacerbates the problems at the heart of Shakespeare’s wife-beating comedy
Different but still problematic
A vibrant, vital attempt to revisit this thorny text
Landmark production as women take charge
While it is indeed a joyful and refreshing evening, the play lacks a continually comedic atmosphere, and on some occasions the humour feels thin
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