The Taming of the Shrew

Updating the Taming: The New Rep Company

With the Globe to Globe festival ripping through Shakespeare’s back catalogue in 37 languages, the Bard is enjoying even more exposure in London than usual this year.

But if, for linguistic reasons, Hamlet in Lithuanian or Romeo and Juliet in Portuguese doesn’t appeal, then fret not, as the New Rep Company is staging a full English version of Shakespeare’s controversial The Taming of the Shrew, due to run from 10- 27 May (Thursday-Sunday) at St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch.

Directed by Graham Hubbard, the play is the tale of Katherina, a headstrong ‘shrew’ who is tempered into becoming a submissive and obedient wife by Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona.

The New Rep Company production transports the action into the 21st century, setting the play on a modern day travellers’ site that deliberately channels Dale Farm and with echoes of ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.’

The early Shakespeare play has always attracted criticism for seeming to celebrate patriarchy: in one scene, Petruchio, faced with calls that he cannot control his wife, challenges friends to a contest to see who has the most obedient wife.

However, many claim the farce intentionally exaggerates cruelty to argue against the mistreatment of women. Despite the debate it has always proved a popular play, spawning numerous adaptations, including Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate and the film 10 Things I Hate About You.

The New Rep Company are now in their second year at St Leonard’s, the church where Shakespeare worshipped and where his star actor, Richard Burbage, is buried.

The company runs an education branch offering apprenticeships and work-experience placements to technical theatre students and will be offering ‘taster’ workshops on Shakespeare during the run of the play.

Tickets cost £12 (£10 concessions) and are available on the door or from Ticket Web.

For more information, e-mail contact@thenewrepcompany.co.uk.