If you think you know Shakespeare’s most enduring classic, then think again. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936 is a ground-breaking new production starring TRACY-ANN OBERMAN. Tracy-Ann is no stranger to these South Wales parts as she has been in Doctor Who, and of course Eastenders and Friday Night Dinner.
This tour, which gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff next month, is directed and adapted by Brigid Larmour from an idea by Tracy-Ann herself who is the co-creator on this project.
Tracy-Ann told us………
“It has a been a lifelong dream of mine to bring this play to the stage in a new way, reimagining Shylock as one of the tough, no-nonsense Jewish matriarchs I grew up around. I am delighted this project is finally happening, and look forward to sparking debate and enlightening people about a pivotal but largely forgotten part of British history – just how close the establishment were to Oswald Mosley and his British Union Of Fascists.
I started my career in the Swan RSC back in 1992 and so to play there again as Shylock is a ‘pinch me’ moment.
I cannot wait to take this important, sharp, sexy and heartfelt production to theatres around the country.”
JOSEPH MILLSON, known for roles in The Last Kingdom, Moon Knight, and his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, joins the cast as Antonio.
Also appearing are Georgie Fellows as Portia, Evie Hargreaves as Mary/Nerissa, Mikhail Sen as Lorenzo/Maharajah, Elly Roberts as Stefania/Blackshirt, Gavin Fowler as Bassanio, Grainne Dromgoole as Jessica, Xavier Starr as Gratiano, and Alex Zur as Yuval/The Duke/Blackshirt.
We spoke to Joseph recently about this tour and his previous work on shows like 24 and the Sarah Jane Adventures (Doctor Who spin-off). He’s also just finished a movie with Rami Malik called The Amateur, due for release in April. But it was The Merchant of Venice 1936 where we began and it is clear it’s a show he feels incredibly passionate about…..
This thought-provoking and timely reimagining relocates the action to an electrifying new setting; London in 1936. With the city on the brink of political unrest, fascism sweeping across Europe and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists threatening a paramilitary march through the Jewish East End, strong-willed single mother Shylock runs a pawnbroking business from her house in Cable Street where Mosley will march. When charismatic, antisemitic aristocrat Antonio comes to her for a loan, a high-stakes deal is struck. Will Shylock take her revenge, and who will pay the ultimate price?
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936 opens at the New Theatre in Cardiff running from the 18th through to Saturday 22nd March. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. For more details and tickets, go HERE.
