If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
July —
August
2009
Company
Director
Robert Forknall
Design
Clare Southern
Music
Dougal Irvine
Cast
Shylock
Jonathan Tafler
Bassanio
Richard Morgan Jones
Lorenzo
Oliver Farnworth
Gratiano
Richard Pryal
Portia
Emily North
Gobbo/Prince of Aragon
Tom Walker
Nerissa
Pam Jenkins
Jessica
Hannah Harvey
Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, agrees to lend money to his friend Bassanio to help him win the heart of the wealthy and beautiful Portia.
However, as Antonio’s own money is tied up in business ventures that depend on the safe return of his ships from sea, he needs to borrow the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender whom he has previously insulted for his high rates of interest.
Shylock lends Antonio the money against a bond. Failure to repay will entitle Shylock to a pound of Antonio’s flesh…