Robin Norton-Hale directs Shakespeare's classic comedy in a new production set in modern-day Brixton opening for a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse tonight. Shakespeare's feistiest comedy is relocated to 21st century London. Brixton girl Kate has no time for smooth-talking Sloane Petruchio, but her traditional father thinks he's perfect.
In the ensuing battle of the sexes, Petruchio's arrogance and Kate's carefully constructed aggression crumble as they discover there's more to love than sharing the same postcode.
The Taming of the Shrew will be directed by Robin Norton-Hale whose previous credits include writing and directing the new English version of La Bohème, OperaUpClose's first production, which won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production and the Whatsonstage Award for Best Off-West End Production. Directing credits include La Bohème (Soho Theatre and c*ckTavern Theatre), The Barber of Seville (London's Little Opera House), Visions of Kerouac (Half Moon Theatre), Best Man Speech (UK tour), Pick ‘n' Myths (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and UK tour), Spirit of Vienna (ETO), Live Canon (Northcott and Greenwich Theatres), Happy Campers (site specific performances at Montagu Close), Pimpinone (Colourhouse Theatre), and a revival of
James Conway's production of Ariodante for English Touring Opera. She was Associate Director on Cloudcuckooland, a new musical by Stephen Sharkey and Alex Silverman (UK and international tour). Assistant Director credits include Sweet Charity (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Katya Kabanova and The Seraglio (both ETO). Writing credits include the new English translation for her production of The Barber of Seville (or Salisbury) for OperaUpClose, and devised and wrote Pick'n'Myths, a children's show based on Greek myths, for the Onassis Programme. Robin is joint artistic director of OperaUpClose, which she founded alongside Adam Spreadbury-Maher and
Ben Cooper in 2009.
