Liz Cooke Archives - North West End UK

The Merchant of Venice 1936 – The Criterion Theatre

26Feb

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

The Merchant of Venice 1936 – The Criterion Theatre

Relocated from the traditional Venice of the 16th century, to 1930’s East End of London, this thoroughly re-worked and re-freshed version of The Merchant of Venice, uses a different period in history to tell its story. The outline of the story remains unchanged. Antonio (Raymond Coulthard) hopes to assist his friend Bassiano (Gavin Fowler) who wishes to court the wealthy Portia (Hannah Morrish); by obtaining a loan from Shylock (Tracey-Ann Oberman). Antonio suffers financial setbacks, and cannot repay the loan, unfortunately, the penalties for this are not financial, Shylock wants her pound of flesh. And yes, you noticed that Shylock is a woman! Oberman imagined a Jewish matriarch, inspired by her grandmother who fled an antisemitic country to arrive in Lo...

30Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Merchant of Venice 1936 – HOME Mcr

Last weekend saw over 100,000 people attend a rally against antisemitism in central London that took place against reports of a steep rise in hate crime - mostly aimed at the UK Jewish population - and the backdrop of renewed hostilities in Gaza. When trying to understand antisemitism from a literary and historical perspective, it seemed aposite for Director Brigid Larmour and Tracy - Ann Oberman to reset Shakespeare's problematic text amidst the rise of fascism in the East End of London in the mid 1930's. The result allows us to view the actions of the protagonists through an entirely new lens, throwing light on their motives and attitudes and giving the play a fresh and exciting perspective for a modern audience. Oberman had long expressed a desire to portray Shylock as an East End J...

6Apr

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Sheila’s Island – Liverpool Playhouse

It’s Bonfire night and Sheila (Tracy Collier), Denise (Abigail Thaw), Julie (Rina Fatania), and Fay (Emily Jane Kerr) are Team C in Pennine Mineral Water Ltd.’s annual outward-bound team-building weekend. Somehow, Sheila has been nominated team leader, and, using her cryptic crossword solving skills, has unwittingly stranded her team on an island in the Lake District. Our intrepid heroines find themselves manufacturing weapons from cable ties and spatulas and create a rescue flag with plastic plates and a toasting fork. Questions are asked; truths are told; dirty washing is aired. Is it possible to build an adequate night shelter with a prom dress and a sleeveless jumper? What is Julie’s husband really up to in Aldi? And why are they on this bloody team building exercise when the...

2Mar

By Melissa JonesNo Comments

Scotland

Sheila’s Island – King’s Theatre

Tim Firth (Calendar Girls and Kinky boots) has been delighting audiences for decades with his productions. Now Sheila’s Island is an all-female reimagining of his earlier work, Neville’s Island is bringing his work to a brand new audience. Four middle aged middle management employees of Pennine Mineral Water Ltd, are on their annual outward bound team bonding weekend. Team leader Sheila has read the clues far too closely and her love a cryptic crossword has caused the ladies to end up in the middle of nowhere in the Lake District as the fog gathers in before Bonfire Night Weekend. As the days come and go, tensions rise, and communications devices fail. There’s not a crumb food in sight, just one sausage and relationships have become rather frayed. As Sheila (Judy Flynn) hauls hersel...