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