This February, Leeds Playhouse welcomes the critically acclaimed production The Merchant of Venice 1936 starring Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) as the first British actress to play Shylock. A new date has just been added during Leeds Playhouse’s Quarry Theatre run from 18 – 22 Feb due to demand.
Tracy-Ann Oberman said: “The message of my female Shylock – based on my Great Grandma, a widow in the East End standing up to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists with all her neighbours and others horrified by the message of BUF – feels more pertinent than ever. The play is about unity, standing together against hatred and its impact has been beyond my wildest hopes and ambitions for it.”
With the city on the brink of political unrest, fascism sweeping across Europe and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists threatening a paramilitary march through the Jewish East End, strong-willed single mother Shylock runs a pawnbroking business from her house in Cable Street where Mosley will march. When charismatic, antisemitic aristocrat Antonio comes to her for a loan, a high-stakes deal is struck. Will Shylock take her revenge, and who will pay the ultimate price?
The full cast includes: Gráinne Dromgoole as Jessica; Georgie Fellows as Portia; Gavin Fowler as Bassanio; Evie Hargreaves as Mary / Nerissa; Joseph Millson as Antonio / Arragon; Elly Roberts as Stefania / Blackshirt; Mikhail Sen as Lorenzo / Maharajah; Xavier Starr as Gratiano / Police Constable; and Alex Zur as Yuval / Balthasar / Blackshirt / Duke.
The creative team includes: Director Brigid Larmour; Associate Director Tracy-Ann Oberman; Costume and Set Design Liz Cooke; Lighting Design Rory Beaton; Sound Design Sarah Weltman; and Composer Erran Baron Cohen.
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