About

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Directed by Alex Pearson

'If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.'

Set against the backdrop of modern-day working shipping docks, Antonio a wealthy Merchant is desperately in need of funds. His friend, Bassanio, needs a rich wife to clear his debts. Portia, a wealthy heiress, reduced to a prize for which men must gamble, appears to be the perfect solution.

Beneath the charmed surface, all are at risk, and everyone needs a win. As for Shylock, the despised and alienated moneylender? Is he the answer to Antonio’s prayers or will Shylock seek the revenge against the community that has never accepted him?

And like Shakespeare we ask:
“How in an avaricious society can truth and justice be achieved if there is no love?”

The most recent production of The Merchant of Venice was at the Drayton Arms Theatre ran between 1 -19th October 2019 and was directed by Alex Pearson.

This dynamic, visceral modern-day adaptation, played to sold out audiences. We focus on clear storytelling in a modern London setting, we take a fresh look at The Merchant of Venice, and its famous Jewish antagonist Shylock. By embracing the characters’ darker and lighter extremes, they emerge as greedy and morally grey, but real. We are concerned by the rise in anti-Semitic and other racist behaviour and we believe in the power of theatre to explore divisive social issues.