Director Gary Mackay 'The villany you teach me I will execute...' One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, The Merchant of Venice was written some time between 1594 and 1596. It has always been a popular play, and is said to have been performed more often than any other of Shakespeare's plays except Hamlet. Bassiano, a young Venetian, seeks to borrow money from his friend Antonio, a successful merchant, so that he can impress and woo a wealthy heiress Portia. Antonio arranges a short term loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Despite Shylock's hatred of the Christian Antonio, he agrees to loan the money on condition that failure to repay the debt will mean that Shylock will extract a pound of Antonio's flesh in return. Antonio agrees and the story unfolds. 'Comedy is a special kind of play in which the audience would expect to find a certain kind of story, with certain conventions. Although comic means funny, tending to laughter, comedic means obeying the conventions of comedy as a form or genre. The rule of comedy is that however serious the confusion, all ends well. The Italian poet Dante (1265-1326) wrote a Commedia, a journey through hell to purgatory and up to heaven, which ends well, but does not make its reader laugh.' (Michael and Mary Alexander, 1998). The Merchant of Venice and Othello are the two Shakespearean plays which have sparked the most controversy, and The Merchant of Venice is the most controversial and (surprisingly) beloved play in Israel. It appears that although the play is difficult and not seemingly a comedy at all, Shakespeare may have been simply using the comedic form to make people look more objectively at the appalling injustices we inflict on one another because of our differences. So maybe this is the 'comedy' of it all - Shakespeare sees people, Jew or Christian, simply as people. If encouraging his audiences to see that we all share a common humanity might well prove difficult, then using the theme of money (to which everyone would relate) could be the best way to reach them. The Merchant of Venice is undoubtedly a challenging play, but ultimately for most of the characters the play does have a happy ending in keeping with the genre. Directing The Merchant of Venice has been an enjoyable challenge as it has given me my first opportunity to direct a Shakespeare play. William Shakespeare was a great storyteller, and my aim with this production is to ensure that this story is told, not just in the terms of the prejudices of the world in which we live, but to present injustice as it continues to exist. Cast ANTONIO, the Merchant of Venice Andrew Kendon Gentlemen of Venice SALERIO Mark Hebert SOLANIO Henry Maynard SALARINO Ken Luxon LORENZO, in love with Jessica Adam Campbell BASSANIO, suitor to Portia David Philpot GRATIANO, friend to Bassanio Stuart Nunn PORTIA, the Lady of Belmont Elizabeth Graham NERISSA, her companion Polly Bissett BALTHAZARA, servant to Portia Susan Paynter SHYLOCK Phil Cox TUBAL, friend to Shylock Aidan Hervey JESSICA, Shylock's daughter Tara Prior LAUNCELOT GOBBO, servant to Shylock/Bassanio Guy Marshall Suitors to Portia THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO Ken Bryden THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON Mark Palmer DUKE OF VENICE Hugh Prior SERVANTS TO PORTIA Kirsty Doyle, Helen Gray JAILER Ben Barratt SOLDIER Philip Pope Production Team Director Gary Mackay Stage Manager Kevin Connor Set Designer Jeremy Bays Sound team Steve Goodwin, Amanda Leaden, Gaenor Pring, Emma Heggie, Maggie Redgrave, Sarah Crisp Wardrobe Mistress Jo Fradley Costume team Mo Pearce, Michelle Askew, Terry Dick Poster design Simon Webb Stage Construction Kirton Construction Set Construction & Backstage Kevin Connor, Jeremy Bays, Suzanne Connor, Elizabeth Connor, Bob Pugh, Jenny Bryson, Emma Cole, Eric Feldkamp, Shaun Pond Properties Kate Tweedley, Lesley Harling Lighting Team Mel Pugsley, Roger Blackmore, David Cousins, Kieran Reed, The Penguin Club Makeup Team Diana Mackay, Deborah Kendon, Lesley Williams, Jan Sheppeard, Mary Fishwick, Maggie Lavin, Hilary Lavin, Graeme Hammond Prompt Sarah Tarrant Publicity & Marketing Dee Wormald Front of House & Sales Michael Cook, Trish James & team Box Office Cheryl Cook & team