Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions and Alan Howard, in association with
the Royal Shakespeare Company, present the Watford Palace Theatre & HOME Manchester
production
TRACY-ANN OBERMAN
REPRISES HER ROLE AS SHYLOCK
IN THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936
“The most important Shakespeare production of the year”
Daily Telegraph
DIRECTED BY BRIGID LARMOUR
LONDON’S TRAFALGAR THEATRE
28 DECEMBER – 25 JANUARY
UK TOUR 4 FEBRUARY – 5 APRIL
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM MERCHANTOFVENICE1936.CO.UK
★★★★★
“An astonishing, full-blooded performance.
For anyone who wonders how to produce Shakespeare in the 21st Century, this really is it”
METRO
Following a triumphant season at the Criterion Theatre and a sold-out UK tour, Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner), is back in the West End to reprise her starring role from asthe first British actressto play Shylock in the critically acclaimed production of The Merchant of Venice 1936 from December this year.
Opening at the Trafalgar Theatre on 28 December, the limited season runs until 25 January. This important, groundbreaking production will then embark on a second UK tour for eight weeks visiting: Liverpool, Bath, Southend, Salford, Fareham, Leeds and Cardiff, culminating in Birmingham on 5 April 2025 – allowing audiences all over the UK the opportunity to experience this “deeply relevant” (Daily Telegraph) play
Tracy-Ann Oberman said: “I am so delighted that, by popular demand, MOV1936 is coming back into the West End so soon after we finished. Demand has been so high that I feel bringing it back, and this time to the beautiful Trafalgar Theatre and then on a national tour, is essential. 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 the play’s impact has been beyond my wildest hopes and ambitions for it.”
Ambition, power and political unrest explode onto the stage in this “striking and impactful” (The Guardian) production that “makes theatre history” (Daily Telegraph). This “fascinating and timely” (Daily Mail) reimagining sees Shakespeare’s classic transported to 1930s East London against the backdrop of the Battle of Cable Street. It is adapted by Brigid Larmour and Tracy-Ann Oberman.
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 MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936
London: Trafalgar Theatre 28 December – 25 January ON SALE NOW
Liverpool: Playhouse Theatre 4 – 8 February ON SALE NOW
Bath: Theatre Royal 11 – 15 February ON SALE 1 AUGUST
Southend: Palace Theatre 18 – 22 February ON SALE SOON
Salford: Lowry 25 February – 1 March ON SALE 18 JULY
Fareham Live 4 – 8 March ON SALE 18 JULY
Leeds: Playhouse Theatre 11 – 15 March ON SALE SOON
Cardiff: New Theatre 18 – 22 March ON SALE NOW
Birmingham: Repertory Theatre 1 – 5 April ON SALE NOW
Creative Team:
Associate Producer – Tracy-Ann Oberman
Costume and Set Design – Liz Cooke
Lighting Design – Rory Beaton
Sound Design – Sarah Weltman
Composer – Erran Baron Cohen
LISTINGS INFORMATION
West End
28 December 2024 – 25 January 2025
Trafalgar Theatre, 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY
2024
28 December at 4pm
29 December at 4pm
30 December at 7:30pm
1 January at 7:30pm
2025
Evening performances: 7:30pm Tuesday – Saturday
Matinee performances: 2:30pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
UK Tour
4 February – 5 April 2025
Evening performances: 7:30pm Tuesday – Saturday
Matinee performances: 2:30pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
Website: Merchantofvenice1936.co.uk
X / Twitter: @MOV1936
Facebook and Instagram: @merchantofvenice1936