“The Taming Of The Shrew” by The Royal Shakespeare Company
Nottingham Theatre Royal.

The original plot shows the courtship of Petruchia (Claire Price) and Katherine (Joseph Arkley), the headstrong shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship; however, Petruchio "tames" her with various psychological torments, such as keeping her from eating and drinking, until she becomes a desirable, compliant, and obedient bride. 

The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina's younger brother, Bianco (James Cooney), Gremia (Melody Brown) and Hortensia (Amelia Donkor).Lucentia (Emily Johnstone) meanwhile is also in love with Bianco.

In this production, Director Justin Audibert has made Katherine and Petruchia's and Bianco, Gremia and Lucentia's roles completely reversed and it's Katherine who is male and his wife is the one doing the taming.

A fabulous cast Charlotte Arrowsmith (Vincentia), Amanda Harris (Baptista), Laura Elsworthy (Trania), Amy Trigg (Biondella), Richard Clews, who was wonderfully camp as Grumio, Aaron Thiara (Petruchio's servant), Hannah Azuonye (The Pedant), Leo Wan (A Widower), Michael Patrick (A Tailor), Alex Jones (An Haberdasher) and Alexander Mushore (Baptista's servant).

The music for this production was the best of the three plays in this mini season of Shakespeare's comedies. The composer was Ruth Chan and the Musical Directors were Lindsey Miller and Connor Fogel.

A wonderful set (Stephen Brimson Lewis) which incorporated the balcony where the musicians were seated, as with the previous two plays, "Measure For Measure" and "As You Like It".

I also love the costumes, wigs and make up for this production.

This storyline has been seen adapted in films and TV programmes many times over the decades, most notably with “Kiss Me Kate” and, on a less comedic scale, in one of the current Coronation Street storylines with regards to controlling behaviour.

It is a real treat to see this quality and inventiveness of Shakespeare's works performed by cast members of this renown. The Royal Shakespeare Company always manage to bring something new to their productions and this is why we see swathes of young people flocking to see, and visibly enjoying these plays, along with theatre goers who just love the Bard's works.

“The Taming Of The Shrew” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal on Wednesday 4 March, Thursday 5 March matinee. and Saturday 7 March