White Desert Productions' The Taming of the Shrew

I was able to go to The White Desert Productions' The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare on Friday night 5th of July 2013. White Desert Productions is the resident theatre company of the London Welsh Centre http://www.whitedesert.org.uk and Lisa Whyte focused on the company for some of her BAPP Arts studies . http://lisawhyte.blogspot.co.uk. Tickets were easy to purchase as well and everything online (publicity) makes sense and is easy to access. Also the way that the theatre company is relating to its role within the Welsh Centre is one that you might want to follow. I had not been there before, but certainly would think about going again for other activities/events as it is a supporter of the arts.  Please visit the site and join the Twitter feed https://twitter.com/white_desertpro. Lisa's production was also seriously affordable for a theatre audience. My new local theatre, The Brockley Jack http://www.brockleyjack.co.uk,  is another one that I hope to go to soon.

So here is a call to everyone to support your local theatre!

This production of The Taming of the Shrew retained the original dialogue that can be a challenge for a modern audience. The discussion I had on the way out with my two daughters (aged 20) was not only how lively, funny, and convincing the scenes were (well cast) but how theatre productions can choose to deviate from a script or remain true to the play's ending as in this production. To add to the discussion the production, directed by David Evans, chose to add male-female casting changes so main characters like Tranio were not so gender specific (played by Aimee Hislop). The two sisters as the main characters of Bianca (Lisa/Elise) and Catherine (Seren Whyte) added to the realism and provocative nature of Shakespeare sibling diversity! There was real (theatrical) shouting and acrimony! and the use of the office chairs as areas of torture was extra funny for those of us who have to work in them... without the silver tape. Real kissing too (Lisa and Tim McFarland/Lucentio). My daughters and I also enjoyed the mix of accents and the american flavour of the remarks, Paul as Hortensio as the music teacher, was a favourite. Ben Margalith had a mammoth task as Petruchio and Niki Hatzidis as Grumio. and Chris Walters  was completely convincing as the older Gremio. All the ensemble did well.

The next show is Under Milkwood on the 19th of October and I hope to book tickets as the poem is a favourite and one I look forward to seeing it staged.