All-female cast and creative team to stage The Taming of the Shrew

Alicia McCormick as Kate and Daneel van der Walt as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew - image by Jesse Kramer

Award-winning director Tara Notcutt will lead some of South Africa’s most celebrated actresses in a version of The Taming Of The Shrew; a meeting of classic text with modern twists, including lip-synching, 90s fashion, and an all-female cast, supported by an all-female creative team.

The Taming Of The Shrew is Shakespeare’s battle of the sexes. Matters of gender, marriage, and family come together in this dark comedy of Kate, a headstrong woman, and her tempestuous relationship with Petruchio, the man who is set on wooing and winning her.

In the lead role of Kate is Alicia McCormick, Daneel van der Walt as Petruchio and Buhle Ngaba as Kate’s sister Bianca. Lynita Crofford plays Baptista; Dianne Simpson is Gremio and Ann Juries plays Grumio. Kathleen Stephens is Lucentio, Naledi Majola is Tranio, Kate Pinchuck is Hortensio and Masali Baduza is Biondello.

Dara Beth is assistant director. Costume design is by Mariechen Vosloo, set design and decor by Jo Glanville and lighting design by Ronel Jordaan. The choreography is by Cleo Notcutt.

In the 62-year history of Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, The Taming Of The Shrew has been performed five times.

“I am honoured to be directing my first Shakespearean play at Cape Town’s iconic Shakespearean venue,” says Notcutt. “This historic production is a first, featuring an all-female cast and team, while at the same time, honouring the vision of Maynardville’s founders - to present world-class productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the magic of an open-air venue. It is fitting that The Taming Of The Shrew was the first play presented at Maynardville, and now it is taking us into the next era.”

The Taming Of The Shrew will be the 50th show that Notcutt directs. At 31, Notcutt is also the youngest person to direct a play at Maynardville and the fifth woman to do so. Notcutt has worked in many styles, from intimate drama and physical theatre to illusion and opera, and now makes her Shakespearean debut. Her directing credits include the international touring hit play …miskien, comic book storytelling such as Mafeking Road, Undermined, and the cult political satirical thriller The Three Little Pigs.

The production forms part of the inaugural Maynardville Open-Air Festival, which will feature a programme of music, dance, comedy and more. The festival will include performances by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cape Town City Ballet, a comedy season run by the Cape Town Comedy Club and a variety of Cape Town’s top performing artists.

The Taming of the Shrew will run from 7 February until 3 March 2018 at 8.15pm Monday to Saturdays. Tickets cost from R150 to R220. Bookings will be through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.