Director Abigail Graham and the company reclaim Shakespeare’s disturbing Merchant of Venice in this unflinching new production told by candlelight in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Looking at the story in a contemporary context, the production asks us to confront and question our own prejudices in the here and now.
This is the first time Abigail has directed at Shakespeare’s Globe. Recent work includes Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith), Mum (Plymouth Drum/Soho Theatre), Earthquakes in London (Guildhall), and The Tyler Sisters (Hampstead). Abigail was the director of The Bush Neighbourhood Company 2020-21, the director of the Lyric Hammersmith Ensemble 2019-2020, and she was the founding Artistic Director of OpenWorks Theatre from 2013-2017- an organisation dedicated to changing who goes to the theatre by changing who makes it.
Merchant of Venice Cast:
Daniel Bowerbank will play Lorenzo / Morocco.
Ben Caplan will play Arragon / Duke / Solanio.
Michael Gould will play Antonio.
Michael Marcus will play Bassanio.
Sophie Melville will play Portia
Adrian Schiller will play Shylock.
Tripti Tripuraneni will play Nerissa.
Aaron Vodovoz will play Launcelot Gobbo.
Eleanor Wyld will play Jessica.
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Bankside, SE1 from 18 February – 9 April.
Booking: shakespearesglobe.com