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Merchant of Venice
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Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre Company returns to the Grand Theatre Arts Wing on November 6th with a new production of one of Shakespeare’s most popular and exciting plays, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.
Artistic Director Peter Richards is swapping his usual director’s chair for this production as he takes on the role of Shylock, the money lender who exacts a horrifying penalty when Antonio, a merchant of Venice, fails to repay a loan.
“Shylock is one of the most famous roles in theatre” says Peter, “and, therefore one of the most daunting because everyone in the audience will have their own preconceptions of the character. Shakespeare undoubtedly set out to make Shylock, a Jew, the villain of the play.” continues Peter “But his (Shakespeare’s) own inherent humanism prevented him from totally succeeding. This, coupled with the twentieth century experience of the Holocaust, means that Shylock can, today, be seen as a character as much sinned against as sinning”.
Peter is a great fan of this particular play. “My first ever professional Shakespearean role was in this play as Lorenzo in the early 1970s. I also directed a production in 2000. It is a wonderful play and has a plot that contains real excitement and tension.”
Fluellen welcomes back Derek Cobley as the director of the play. He has previously had directed outstanding productions of KING LEAR and LIFE OF GALILEO for the company.
London-based Adrian Metcalfe returns to his home town to play the title role in a cast that includes Natalie Ball, Alison John, Tom McLeod, Nick Richards and Bethan Thomas.
Regular audiences to the Grand Theatre Arts Wing will be delighted to hear that the theatre has now installed new raked seating in time for this production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.
The production will also be visiting De Valence, Tenby on 15th November (7.30pm)
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Fluellen Theatre Company
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Monday, November 5, 2007 |
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