The Taming of the Shrew 2011

"Immersion Theatre's production meets its desire to be accessible and to place the audience at the

heart of the experience...Keep an eye on them." -Broadway World (Gary Naylor)

Hackney: 1962. In a London dominated by the violent rule of the notorious Kray Twins, three criminal dynasties are drawn together as suitors vie to woo, wed and bed the wealthy daughters of gangland powerhouse Baptista Minola. The eldest is as vicious as the youngest is beautiful. The catch? Their mother will not allow the youngest to marry first. Cue a riotous, testosterone-fuelled struggle for power, money, and love in Shakespeare’s most controversial comedy.

"James Tobias’s pacey, inventive production is a hugely accessible and witty adaptation...The cast brings the text wholly to life, enjoying the well achieved balance between (mostly slapstick) comedy and the dark undercurrents of pathos" -The Stage (Dominic Martin)
        
Following a 5* transfer with The Importance of Being Earnest, this joint venture sees the first collaboration between rising new company Immersion Theatre Ltd. and The Courtyard Theatre's creative team.

"The performance went off without a hitch and the actors’ onstage rapport was very fluid"-Hackney Citizen (Jeffrey Andreoni)

The show will run from Feb.1st-Feb.27th, 2011 and tickets are available from ticketweb or alternatively, by phoning The Courtyard Theatre box office on 0207 729 2202.
Tickets: £12, £10 (concessions), £9 group bookings 

"...a bold choice by Immersion Theatre's director James Tobias and one that results in some very interesting and enjoyable twists." -remotegoat (Susan Moisan)

Cast
Pete- Matthew Flacks
Kate- Rochelle Parry
Luke- Ed Williams
Tranio- Sam Donnelly
Baptista- Kate Walsh
Bianca/Hostess- Annabel Norbury
Greg- Alexander Pankhurst
Ron- John Triggs
Horace- Zachary Street
Gremio- John Rayment
Vince- Steve Wickenden
The Biondellos- Matt Gardner/Josie Martin
Curtis/Player- Matt Gardner
Sly/Pedant- Benjamin Gould
Widow/2nd Huntswoman- Kendra McMillan
Tailor/1st Huntswoman- Lucy Caplin
Haberdasher/3rd Huntswoman- Rebecca F. Johnson
Lord- Josie Martin

"Matthew Flacks is both genuinely charming and genuinely nasty...Crucially, he does stop just

short of using his charisma to elicit sympathy for a character...more anti than hero. As Kate,

Rochelle Parry is convincingly shrewish...and is able to deliver her famous monologue...with a

fire in the eyes" -Broadway World (Gary Naylor)

Creative
Director- James Tobias
Co-Director- Rupert  Holloway                                       
Assistant Director- Charlotte Ive
Costume Design- Claire S. Thompson
Guest Director- Tanith Lindon