Stafford Castle Shakespeare Goes all Wall Street for 2019

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The grounds of Stafford Castle are this summer to be transformed into 1950s New York for an updated setting of a thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

Similar to the plays original setting of a cosmopolitan 16th century Venice, this brave new choice for the plays action will still be every bit chock-full of religious strife, where communities are divided by wealth and religion, featuring the iconic figure of Shylock, one of Shakespeare’s most complex characters.

The Merchant of Venice is a compelling story of money, love, and prejudice.

 

This year the festival will welcome a new director, Oliver O’Shea, who is passionate about innovative theatre being shared widely.

Tough Act To Follow

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, together with venues new management Freedom Leisure, have announced that Merchant of Venice will be a first for Festival Shakespeare, having never been performed at Stafford in the 29 year history of the festival.

Production Manager Richard Goodman said: “It is going to be a great opportunity to see this play performed for the first time at Stafford Castle and in a vibrant and unique telling of the story.”

However this year the annual outdoor spectacle will have a hard act to follow, after last year’s critically-acclaimed five-star record breaking production of Macbeth, which was performed to over 10,000 people during the blistering hot summer months – some 3,000 more than any previous Stafford Festival Shakespeare production.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT

The privileged heiress Portia is seeking a husband by unconventional means: a suitor merely has to solve a little puzzle to win her hand in marriage. Spendthrift Bassanio longs to be considered by Portia, but how can he impress her, when he is so reckless with the money he borrows?

If his close friend Antonio can lend him no more money, who else might be willing to lend a sum on his behalf? And at what cost…?

DID YOU KNOW…

The first law school for women in the United States, founded in 1908, was named Portia Law School after Shakespeare’s heroine in The Merchant of Venice.

The Nazis were not particularly subtle in their use of the play as an anti-Semitic vehicle. In a 1942 production of The Merchant of Venice in Berlin, the director planted extras in audiences to shout and whistle when Shylock appeared.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” is one of the most quoted lines of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The next line, usually not quoted, is “If you tickle us, do we not laugh?”

The Merchant of Venice will open on June 27th 2019 and run until July 13th at Stafford Castle.  Booking is open now[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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WHERE

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BOX OFFICE

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”BOOK ONLINE NOW” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” size=”lg” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk%2Fen-GB%2Fshows%2Fthe%2520merchant%2520of%2520venice%2Fevents||target:%20_blank|” css=”.vc_custom_1552051586827{margin-top: -15px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1458950587230{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Note that this online booking button will take you to the theatres own secure online booking centre. 

If you need help please contact the venue box office on the number provided above.  Enjoy the show.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw9q2P2N028&rel=0″ title=”SUMMARY OF MERCHANT OF VENICE (THUG NOTES)”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1458774858440{background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1459159851723{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”SEEN THIS SHOW? SUBMIT YOUR REVIEW” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1458936183375{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-12″][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459162231179{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1459162663301{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text]We love to hear what people think about Staffordshire Theatre – so why not share your feedback about this show and help others to decide if they’d like to see it.
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