MEASURE FOR MEASURE 2019
4-23 February
"Doing the gender swap makes even more sense of the title; absolutely brilliant production!" Brian Blessed OBE
In a world where women are still objectified and whose exposure to sexual harassment continues to be laid at the their own door, what do we think when that status quo is reversed?
Our 40th show kicked-off 2019: Shakespeare’s unflinching examination of sexual harassment and the abuse of power. Given the explosion of the debate around these subjects and in the wake of campaigns such as #MeToo and Times Up, there had never been a more important time for this play. Discover more on the blog
In order to encourage discussion around entrenched preconceptions of gender and power structures, six characters gender-swapped at the interval, and the show re-started from the beginning. Rather than focusing purely on the central relationship of Angelo and Isabella, we also gender-swapped the roles of the Duke, Mariana, Escalus and Mistress Overdone to enable audiences to further consider the how we view men and women. Watch Matt's explanation of how it will all work (2 min video)
Director Charlotte Conquest returned (Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, The Two Gentlemen of Verona) to Holy Trinity Church with a blisteringly modern adaptation of this incredible play.
Shakespeare's unflinching dark comedy is as shockingly relevant today as it was 400 years ago.
“A triumph of ingenuity, inventiveness and experimentation" British Theatre Guide
"A bold, entertaining and thought-provoking production" Guildford Dragon
“I was amazed what an effect the gender change had on me.” Audience Member
COMPANY
ANGLEO/ISABELLA Graeme Dalling
ISABELLA/ANGELA Hannah Edwards
POMPEY/PROVOST Sarah Gobran
MARIANA/DUKE Esther McAuley
ESCALUS/MASTER OVERDONE Michael Sheldon
DUKE/MARIANA Jack Whitam
MISTRESS OVERDONE/ESCALUS Victoria Willing
CLAUDIO Daniel Abbott
LUCIO Matt Pinches
ARTISTIC TEAM
DIRECTOR & ADAPTOR Charlotte Conquest
DESIGNER Neil Irish
LIGHTING Mark Dymock
SOUND & COMPOSER Matt Eaton
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Indiana Lown-Collins
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER Anett Black
VOCAL COACH Sterre Maier
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER Beth Mann
PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Wilson
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER Cat Mackenzie