Conall Morrison 2008 Production

Conall Morrison's animated production at the Courtyard Theatre focused on the comedy, exemplified by the feisty pairing of Michelle Gomez as Katherina and Stephen Boxer as Petruchio.

A man restrains a woman as she sprawls across a table in her effort to reach some food — Katherina (Michelle Gomez) meets her match in Petruchio (Stephen Boxer), Courtyard Theatre, 2008
Photo by Simon Annand © RSC Browse and license our images

CARRY ON SHAKESPEARE

The production concentrated on the humour of the ludicrous plot, prompting critics to call it 'Carry On Shakespeare'. Retaining the play-within-a-play framework with Christopher Sly, the show began with a riotous drunken stag party, followed by the entrance of the Players in a lorry with the number-plate 'XME K8'.

Michelle Gomez (Katherina) and Stephen Boxer (Petruchio) had audiences roaring with laughter, despite Kate's frequent beatings and desperate begging for food. Her final speech of submission was delivered in a submissive and robotic way, leaving no doubt that the play's misogyny is no longer palatable to modern audiences.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

The play opens with a show of drunken machismo - the company called this 'Dave's stag party'. They perform a rugby-inspired haka dance. Sly attaches himself to the group who are on their way to a strip club.

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Huntsman Dost thou love pictures?

Huntsman (Adrian Decosta) and Sly (Stephen Boxer) on the 'lipchaise' - a sofa shaped like a giant pair of red lips.

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Act 1 Scene 1

The Players bring in scenery to form the set of Padua. The tower (top left) which formed the street and nightclub doorway in the Prologue is turned around to reveal the elegant architecture of a street in Padua.

Photo by Simon Annand © RSC Browse and license our images

Photo by Simon Annand © RSC Browse and license our images

Act 2 Scene 1

Biondello (Jack Laskey) brings in a 'small packet of Greek and Latin books' for Bianca.

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Act 2 Scene 1

Kate They call me Katherine that do talk of me.

Kate (Michelle Gomez) welcomes Petruchio (Stephen Boxer) with a kick to the head.

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Act 2 Scene 1

Petruchio Thou can'st not frown; thou can'st not look askance, nor bite the lip as angry wenches will.

Petruchio (Stephen Boxer) tries to seduce Kate (Michelle Gomez) who remains unimpressed.

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Act 3 Scene 2

The wedding haka-the citizens of Padua celebrate Kate's wedding with a dance which recalls the stag party at the opening of the play. Instead of a drunken stomp, the citizens perform an Italianate version.

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Act 3 Scene 2

Petruchio Where be these gallants? Who's at home?
Baptista You are welcome sir.
Petruchio And yet I come not well. ...
Tranio Not so well apparelled as I wish you were.

Petruchio (Stephen Boxer) arrives on the back of his servant Grumio (William Beck).

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Act 3 Scene 2

The wedding haka-the citizens of Padua celebrate Kate's wedding with a dance which recalls the stag party at the opening of the play. Instead of a drunken stomp, the citizens perform an Italianate version.

Photo by Simon Annand © RSC Browse and license our images

Act 3 Scene 1

Hortensio Before you touch the instrument to learn the order of my fingering.

Hortensio (Sean Kearns) tries to seduce Bianca (Amara Karan) while disguised as Litio, a music teacher.

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Act 4 Scene 5

Petruchio Come on a god's name, once more towards our father's.

A broken Kate (Michelle Gomez) tries to follow Petruchio's confusing commands.

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Act 5 Scene 1

Petruchio Sweet Kate...thy delight is in tormenting…

Petruchio (Stephen Boxer, front right) entertains the guests at Lucentio and Bianca's wedding by singing a song to Kate (front left) and playing the lute, while behind them the servants set up the reception banquet. (The song Petruchio performs is Sweet Kate written by Robert Johns).

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Act 5 Scene 2

At the last possible moment, the Lady (Amanda Hadingue) enters the story and rescues her actress playing Kate (Michelle Gomez) from the clutches of Petruchio (Stephen Boxer), ending the play-within-a-play and consigning Sly back to his life as a drunkard.

Photo by Simon Annand © RSC Browse and license our images

Videos

Act 2, Scene 1 The Taming of the Shrew 2008 © RSC Browse and license our images

Act 4, Scene 3 The Taming of the Shrew 2008 © RSC Browse and license our images

Theatical poster for The Taming of the Shrew 2008 featuring an Adam and Eve-style pose with a serpent wrapped around a tree

CAST AND CREATIVES

COMPANY

Courtyard Theatre

Arsher Ali - Huntsman, Philip

Jade Anouka - Lady’s PA, Nicholas

William Beck - Grumio

Stephen Boxer - Christopher Sly, Petruchio

John Paul Connolly - Bouncer, Tailor

Simon Darwen - Huntsman, Haberdasher

Adrian Decosta - Huntsman, Nathaniel

Leonard Fenton - Vincentio

James Garnon - Player, Curtis

Michelle Gomez - Marion Hackett, Katherina

Amanda Hadingue - Lady, Widow

David Hargreaves - Baptista Minola

Amara Karan - Cicely Hackett, Bianca

Sean Kearns - Hortensio

Charles Keir - Tranio

Jack Laskey - Biondello

Patrick Moy - Lucentio

Will Sharpe - Bartholomew, Joseph

Peter Shorey - Player, Gremio

Larrington Walker - Merchant

CREATIVES

Director - Conall Morrison

Designer - Francis O'Connor, Joan O'Clery (costumes)

Lighting designer - Paul Keogan

Sound designer - Mike Compton

Music - Conor Linehan

Movement - Joyce Henderson

Fights - Malcolm Ranson

The RSC's archive is held at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. You can visit the Library and Archives there to look at production related information, including photos, videos of shows and stage management documents:

Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive homepage

You can search the RSC catalogue here:

RSC performance database

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