The Taming of the Shrew in rehearsal

Director Justin Audibert talks about setting the The Taming of the Shrew in a matriarchal society, playing Petruchio (Petruchia) by a woman and Katherine by a man. Doing something new and different with Shakespeare's play.

[@cirquedujay2269]

Caught a performance last week. It was utterly brilliant! Keep producing phenomenal work, RSC!

[@MrJoshjameslee]

Saw this at the weekend. Brilliant work that turns the play on its head and highlights the uncomfortable misogyny of the play

[@mikej5366]

Josh Lee I’m thinking the boy in the dress would be perfect for you as well.

[@MrJoshjameslee]

T J I think so too. We should celebrate gender diversity and fluidity

[@mikej5366]

Josh Lee lol

[@tazz222003]

Having watched the RSC do a beautifully rendered classic version of TTOTS a few years back, I have to say I’m very excited to see this change up. It will spark some interesting thoughts and dialogues in the audience. Keep up the great work! Only wish I could be in London again for this staging. Cheers.

[@almac808]

Saw this yesterday - fantastic show, hats off to all involved!

[@shaunig6716]

Brilliant concept! 🥰

[@mikej5366]

Katherine is a woman, and Katherine is the Shrew. Changing this dynamic changes everything. This is not a Shakespearean play.

[@jessicaalexander-lillicrap9527]

T J Katherine was written for a man

[@elizabethwilson6872]

The RSC no longer concerns itself with preserving Shakespeare’s brilliance. It has its own agenda.

[@treyderringer611]

If a “contemporary audience” has a problem with Katherine’s speech, they shouldn’t attend The Taming of the Shrew. Don’t change Shakespeare’s words to fit YOUR agenda. Preserve his work. That should be your mission.

[@treyderringer611]

philuip don’t be daft.

[@treyderringer611]

philuip 🙄 I recognize I asked way too much of you. Anyway ... hey RSC? Too late to recast? We’ve found the Shrew.

[@mariadomingo482]

Trey Derringer Oh she is waspish, but I think the role demands intelligence. Let’s keep searching.

[@elizabethwilson6872]

Trey Derringer Well, at least philuip is classy and well-spoken ;)

[@mariadomingo482]

Elizabeth Wilson haha. clearly

[@OstrichRidingCowboy]

I think most of the negative comments are trying to say that gender-swapped classics can be fun, intelligent and exciting; but this production doesn't appear to be aiming for these.

[@elizabethwilson6872]

Alex Brunk Thy mansplaining hath missed thy mark, I see, But hath exposed thy churlish vanity.

[@mariadomingo482]

Elizabeth Wilson Well played

[@OstrichRidingCowboy]

@@elizabethwilson6872 If agreeing with everyone using less reactionary language is "mansplaining", fine. Use your brief authority to go off, I guess.

[@charlottep4222]

A lot of snowflakes in this comment section lol

[@andrewb.8184]

This production left me baffled and uncomfortable. It acknowledges how problematic showing this play to a modern audience is but doesn't do anything to remedy it other than swap genders. Yes, I suppose domestic abuse, sexual assault and psychological torture is hilarious because, in this version, Katherine has a penis. Not to mention how hilarious and inspired depicting men with feminine mannerisms as jokes was. Thanks, I hate it!

[@roxandratabacaru8820]

I think it is not a good idea.....but it is funny like exercise.

[@Xirnatts]

I liked this performance, and I don't think the original Shakespeare's play was misogynistic at all, so it doesn't really "change its meaning to fit an agenda". The gender-swap was a way to get people to question their suspension of disbelief, and start questioning what the play is saying in general. I think this is why they got rid of the character of "Sly" because he became redundant. The role of Sly in the original play is to establish a "mise en abîme", or "play within the play" so that we understand that the characters are playing, it's all comedy. The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy, and it was made to have a laugh. Take the character or Petruchio: his only motivation is money, and he's ready to do anything to get it. That doesn't seem like a hero to me. And he's not, his actions are not meant to be taken as virtuous. Katherine on the other hand doesn't care about money. All she wants is her freedom. She is very well spoken and witty, and her last speech, about how women shall be obedient cannot be taken as anything else than sarcasm, which she uses to win herself peace of mind, without meaning a bit of it. Just like the passage with the moon and the sun. The true force of this play resides in the fact that people more enclined to misogynistic views will not understand the sarcasm and enjoy the play for what they think it is, while others would be more sensitive to the subtones and thus also enjoy the play. In the end, everyone enjoys the play for what they think it is, and this is probably why Shakespeare became as famous as he is now.

[@kirkrintoul328]

Shakespeare's plays don't need your virtue signaling "improvements."

[@RB-mq6em]

Gender swap - hmm. Can you please explain it in a really slow, patronising way? Thanks.

[@williammartin2593]

But why, o why, did you add new words! For shame.

[@ajdouglas2862]

The Taming of the Dude 👎

[@michaelnixon525]

What an utter load of crap. I, personally, have known lots of men called Katherine, of course I have. How dare you say what Shakespeare would have liked. Why don't you try getting a job