16TH JULY – 25TH AUGUST 2007
OXFORD CASTLE
One of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies was brought to life in the romantic setting of the Oxford Castle Unlocked courtyard. The audience were seated at the foot of the Castle Mound where a giant gold bird cage dominated the set, evoking the constraints Petruchio (Ben Joiner) constantly tries to put on his fiesty would-be wife Katherine (Emma Pallant).
Directed by Heather Davies, live music, song and dance combined in this production which set the story of the “shrewish” Katherine and her contrastingly obedient sister Bianca in the 1950s.
Reviews
“Stuffed with flashy touches such as water pistols, leopard-skin pants and 1950s jive routines, it crackled with energy”
The Oxford Mail
“This Shrew doesn’t overreach or get too bogged down in politics – instead, it skips along at a merry pace – just the sort of effervescence we should expect from al fresco summer theatre”
The Stage
Artistic team
Director – Heather Davies
Designer – Isla Shaw
Design Assistant – Robyn Wilson
Movement Director – Anna Morrissey
Fight Director – Jonathan Waller
Voice and Verse Coach – Richard Ryder
Cast
Darrell Brockis
Richard Burnip
Tim Daish
Ben Joiner
Richard Kidd
Andrew MacBean
Emma Pallant
Michael Palmer
Jo Theaker
Understudies
John Holden White
Amy Hamdoon