Review: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Tron Theatre, Glasgow

At the beginning of Jo Clifford's radical new production of The Taming Of The Shrew, we are told that we are in a world where women are the dominant gender.

The gender roles have been flipped for this production and a boy called Kate (Matt Gavan) is introduced as 'sexy, a bit dim and does everything that he is told'. His older sister Bianca (Francois Pandolfo) is notoriously difficult and their mother says that Kate cannot marry until Bianca has.

Of all the Shakespeare plays to reverse the roles this is perhaps one of the most fascinating. The source material is deeply misogynistic, with marriage being treated like a business transaction and women as property. Overall, this feels like a playful piece but there is a darker undertone. It is implied that given the same opportunities, women would abuse power just as much as men.

The cast move seamlessly between multiple roles throughout the production. While the whole ensemble work brilliantly together, Scarlett Brookes stands out with her strong performance as a thoroughly nasty Petruchio.

With a 75 minute run time, this is a breathless and exhilarating take on the original text that is performed is an engaging and accessible way.

The Taming Of The Shrew is at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 30th March.

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