Over 700 students from four schools across Harrow are heading to Bankside this month for Globe Education’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, running until March 25.

The productions, performed by Globe actors in the Globe theatre, are created with those aged 11 to 18 in mind.

They retain Shakespeare’s text, edited to around 100-minutes, and explore character and issues which are just as relevant to young people today as when Shakespeare first wrote the works.

In Taming of the Shrew two sisters are being married off. Bianca is hell-bent on it and can’t wait to fly the nest.

Kate, on the other hand, balks at the thought of losing her independence and struggles to think of anything worse.

Unfortunately but Kate has to marry first for Bianca to be allowed and whilst Bianca has no shortage of offers, who will get hitched to Kate, the fabulous and ungovernable shrew?

Perhaps Petruchio might take her on for a bet: he’s a bit of a gold-digger and as wild and rebellious as she is.

Harrow Times:

(Photo by  Cesare de Giglio)

The production draws on themes of sibling rivalry, perceptions and expectations of women and the power of fathers and husbands.

The Globe believes perceptions of gender and relationship stereotyping have changed significantly in the 400 years since Shakespeare wrote the play, but that those themes are still strongly relevant to today’s teenagers.

Director Jacqueline Defferary observes: “People describe Shrew as a problem play; I see it as a perfect opportunity to explore pressing issues surrounding gender and relationships – important for us all, especially young people.

“The play highlights how far we have come and how far we still have to go. This is where the problems lie, we can’t shy away from them.”

Since 2007 Globe Education and Deutsche Bank’s partnership has given 150,000 free tickets to state school students to see a performance at the Globe.

For many students it will be their first experience of live theatre, let alone Shakespeare.

Alongside the production Globe Education runs student workshops and continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers, as well as providing award-winning free online resources for students and teachers that support the GCSE and A Level curricula.

Patrick Spottiswoode, director of Globe Education, says: “Playing Shakespeare has offered over £2 million worth of free tickets to every state secondary school in London and Birmingham. 

“But the real success is that the project is introducing students to Shakespeare and his plays as Shakespeare intended – through the power of play.”

For more information visit shakespearesglobe.com.