Saturday 10 July - Sunday 11 July 2010   Play starts at 3:00pm  (gates open at 1:30pm)         
Saturday 17 July - Sunday 18 July 2010   Play starts at 3:00pm  (gates open at 1:30pm)               
Before each performance there is Elizabethan Fun & Games from 2pm - 3pm
Food available at the farm shop or enjoy bringing your own picnic. Chairs available.

The Taming of the Shrew explores several themes – deception, power, wealth, obedience, idealistic and realistic love and social and anti-social behaviour. First published in 1623 it is as relevant today as then and explores the consequences of good and bad behaviour and what is seen as acceptable to society in a spectacular fashion.

The wealthy Baptista has decreed that his fiery, ill-behaved, shrewish daughter Katharine must marry before her seemingly delightful sister Bianca, who has no shortage of suitors Lucientio, Hortensio and Gremio. They persuade and pay for Petruchio, who is seeking a wealthy wife, to marry her and so enable them to pursue Bianca, by means of multiple subterfuge.

Sparks fly at Petruchio and Katharine’s first meeting, they both have met their match and in order to teach her good manners his behaviour is outrageous and totally opposite to what Katharine expects – he carries her off to his country house, denies her food, decent clothes, sleep whilst singing her praises until she understands that by putting someone else’s needs before her own she is free to be herself. Theirs is a journey resulting in a truly real love and partnership – she “obeys” his wishes, but still retains her spirit.

On her return to Padua – Bianca has married Lucentio, Hortensio his widow and their outwardly romantic marriages are anything but. The men bet that their wives will respond to their commands – only Katharine does, and as final proof of their relationship Petruchio asks her to tell the wives the importance of wifely obedience.

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