Tim Carroll 2008 production

This production was directed by Tim Carroll and designed by Laura Hopkins.

Tim Carroll directed Angus Wright as Shylock, a city slicker in a corporate world in this modern dress production.

Production gallery

Portia, hand outstretched, explaining to Nerissa that she's fed up with her father's casket challenge.

Act 1 Scene 2

Portia This reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband.
O me, the word 'choose!' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike;
So is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.
Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?

Portia (Georgina Rich) explains to Nerissa (Amanda Hadingue) that she's fed up with her situation. They discuss her father's will which orders that her suitors must pick one of three caskets in order to win her hand in marriage.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

Launcelot playing a trick on Old Gobbo, one arm around his shoulder.

Act 2 Scene 2

Launcelot Gobbo Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left...

Shylock's servant Launcelot (William Beck) plays a trick on his father, who is blind. Old Gobbo (Larrington Walker) has asked him directions to Shylock's house so Launcelot tries to confuse him.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

Bassanio looking at all the caskets before making his choice.

Act 3 Scene 2

Bassanio Thou meagre lead, / Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught,
Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence; / And here choose I; joy be the consequence!

At Belmont, Bassanio (Jack Laskey) looks at all the caskets before choosing the one made of lead.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

Shylock stands over Antonio with a knife as Portia explains how the bond will be forfeit.

Act 4 Scene 1

Portia This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; / The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh'

Just as Shylock is about to cut into Antonio to take his 'pound of flesh', Portia points out that the bond is forfeit if he takes a single drop of blood.

Shylock - Angus Wright
Portia - Georgina Rich
Antonio - James Garnon

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

Jessica and Lorenzo lie on their backs in the gardens at Portia's home.

Act 5 Scene 1

Lorenzo The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees / And they did make no noise

Jessica (Amara Karan) and Lorenzo (Patrick Moy) lie in the gardens at Portia's home in Belmont, declaring their love for each other and comparing themselves to lovers in classical stories.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

Portia raising her finger to Bassanio, telling him his heart is as empty as her finger.

Act 5 Scene 1

Bassanio If I could add a lie unto a fault, / I would deny it; but you see my finger / Hath not the ring upon it; it is gone.
Portia Even so void is your false heart of truth. / By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed / Until I see the ring.

Bassanio (Jack Laskey) doesn't have the ring Portia (Georgina Rich) gave to him because he's given it to Balthazar, the laywer. Portia tells him his heart is as empty as her finger.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

A man and woman hold hands in the centre of the stage, as anther couple kneel near them.

Act 5 Scene 1

Nerissa. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano; / For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk,
In lieu of this last night did lie with me.
Gratiano Why, this is like the mending of highways / In summer, where the ways are fair enough:
What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?

In order to explain how she and Portia (Georgina Rich) have the rings given to the lawyer and his clerk, Nerissa (Amanda Hadingue) says that they 'lay with' them. Before Gratiano (John Paul Connolly) and Bassanio (Jack Laskey, foreground) can get too upset, Portia reveals the truth.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC – Image Licensing

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