The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night: Theatre Royal

Propeller is an all-male theatre company famous for bringing fresh and engaging adaptations of Shakespeare to audiences across the world and has already had two hit seasons at the Theatre Royal - in winter 2011 (with Richard III and the Comedy of Errors) and spring 2012 (Henry V and The Winters Tale).  This time the company is bringing two of its most popular comedy revivals to the city. One of Shakespeares best loved comedies of romance and confusion, Twelfth Night tells a twisted tale of mistaken identity, transformation and deception.  With a man playing a girl disguised as a boy, illusion and reality are almost indistinguishable. All set on Propellers mysterious island of Illyria, this is a dark and delightful retelling. Brash, brutal and darkly comic, The Taming Of The Shrew pits two disguised, suitors against each other for the hand of beautiful Bianca, whilst gold-digging Petruchio agrees to wed her viciously ill-tempered sister Kate sight-unseen. The difference between marrying for love and marrying for money, however, becomes increasingly difficult to judge. The Propeller ethos is to find a more engaging way of expressing Shakespeare and to more completely explore the relationship between text and performance. Mixing a rigorous approach to the text with a modern physical aesthetic, they have been influenced by mask work, animation and classic and modern film and music from all ages. Productions are directed by Edward Hall and designed by Michael Pavelka. Propeller has toured internationally to Australia, China, Spain, Mexico, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Cyprus, Ireland, Tokyo, Gdansk, Germany, Italy, Malta, Hong Kong and the U.S.A. Edward Hall is a member of the Hall theatrical dynasty, son of Theatre director Sir Peter Hall and half-brother of Hollywood actress Rebecca Hall. The ensemble cast for both productions includes: Ben Allen, Joseph Chance, John Dougall, Finn Hanlon, Lewis Hart, Christopher Heyward, Vince Leigh, Chris Myles, Liam OBrien, Benjamin OMahony, Gary Shelford, Dan Wheeler, Darrell Brockis and Arthur Wilson. This Propeller season is once again supported by The Touring Partnership, collaboration between some of the countrys leading promoting theatres.