FREE matinee performance

4pm Sunday 9th March

In this ninth consecutive annual Summer Shakespeare production, the combined forces of the Graduate Dramatic Society (GRADS) and the University Dramatic Society (UDS) offer one of the most popular and enjoyable plays in the Shakespeare canon, staged in the unique environment of the University of Western Australia’s New Fortune Theatre. This is the only replica Elizabethan Theatre in the southern hemisphere; an open-roofed venue built faithfully to the same dimensions as the Fortune Theatre built in London in 1600 by carpenter Peter Streete, a year after he built Shakespeare’s Globe.

The Director: Stephen Lee. Born in London, Stephen worked extensively as a professional actor in both Theatre and Television before concentrating on directing and teaching. He has directed well over fifty productions, including at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket (now home of Phantom of the Opera). He has taught Shakespeare and classical theatre studies at The Method Studio, London; The Lee Strasberg studio and Italia Conti. He also worked for some years with a professional improvisation troupe in London. Stephen is currently founding an authorised branch of The Method Studio in Perth.

The Taming of the Shrew delivers a riotous evening of politically very incorrect humour. Beautiful Bianca can not wed until her elder shrewish sister Katherina has found a husband. Bianca's suitors take it upon themselves to find a man to match the headstrong, wilful Katherina and fireworks ensue!

Is the mad Petruchio motivated purely by misogyny?

Will Kate bow to his ridiculous demands?

Or will their consuming fires cancel each other out?