A moment that changed me: Patrick Stewart on the teacher who spotted his talent – and saved him by Patrick Stewart

I skipped the 11-plus and was failing at school. Then I met Cecil Dormand, the extraordinary English teacher who transformed my life for ever I never sat my 11-plus. On the day of the test, …

Theater Review: “The Merchant of Venice” — Rebooted Marvelously by Erik Nikander

Audiences who are open to a show that provides both riotous comedy and bracing truths will find plenty to think about in this deconstruction of one of the Bard’s most problematic problem p…

The Digital Meighen Forum | Meet the Festival ft. Sara Farb and Steve Ross by Stratford Festival

Welcome to this week's Meet the Festival, with guests Sara Farb and Steve Ross, hosted by Stephanie Johns. In this fun and informal digital Q&A sessions, they discuss the Finally There's Sun…

Art Alert: Egyptian Silent Theatre Show “Halawes” to Premiere at Al-Hanager by Eslam Omar

By making his 12-year-old dream come true, director Mohmed Abdalla aims to send a message of hope to all mime theatre artists in Egypt, urging them to continue their efforts. Halawes (Halluc…

The Digital Meighen Forum | Meet the Festival ft. Sean Arbuckle and Arlene Duncan by Stratford Festival

Welcome to this week's Meet the Festival, with guests Sean Arbuckle and Arlene Duncan, hosted by Lois Adamson. In this fun and informal digital Q&A sessions, they discuss this year's product…

The Digital Meighen Forum | Meet the Festival ft. Jani Lauzon and Brefny Caribou by Stratford Festival

Welcome to this week's Meet the Festival, with guests Jani Lauzon and Brefny Caribou, hosted by Stephanie Johns. In this fun and informal digital Q&A sessions, they discuss this year's produ…

News: Shakespeare Theatre Company declares “PLAY ON!” for its 36th Season by News Desk (organization-Submitted Press Release)

021/22 Season includes first Broadway-bound musical premiering on STC’s stage, “Once Upon a One More Time” and two Shakespeare plays — “Much Ado About Nothing” and “The Mercha…

Creative Youth Studio S2 E7: Bard’s Birthday by The Old Globe

Your hosts Katrina Heil, Jada Jackson, Imahni King, and Emily Talerman will dive into everything Shakespeare in celebration of his birthday with student and actor Seth Holt and The Old Globe…

John Simm meets Tracy-Ann Oberman: 'Without the audience, we’re just shouting in a room' by Chris Wiegand

The actors and old friends talk about how theatre beats TV, the terror of standup – and the joys of making Yoko Ono crack up John Simm’s dad encouraged him towards a career on stage; Tra…

Sally Bayley: what Shakespeare taught me about my family by Claire Armitstead

Falstaff, Mistress Quickly and the fairy rulers of A Midsummer Night’s Dream helped the author through a traumatic childhood and feature in her memoir No Boys Play Here Sally Bayley was ab…

Musical of the Month: Hairspray: The Creatives by JK

Last week's Musical of the Month column focused on what has become of the original cast of Hairspray since they took Broadway by storm during the summer of 2002. This week, we'll take a loo…

New Series From Off-Broadway's Bedlam to Offer a Shakespeare Mash-Up by Logan Culwell-Block

The streaming series will combine plot points and characters from King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Merchant of Venice, and more.

The Merchant of Venice, BBC iPlayer review – a parable on the limits of tolerance by Laura De Lisle

Polly Findlay's 2015 take on Shakespeare's trickiest comedy pays dividends Ah, 2015. Those halcyon days of packed theatres. Thank God the RSC had the presence of mind to film Polly Findlay�…

Reflecting Shakespeare TV: Episode 7 - Injustice, Revenge, and Healing (The Merchant of Venice) by The Old Globe

Dustin Hoffman to Star in Broadway Revival of Our Town in 2021 by Lindsey Sullivan

Thornton Wilder's classic play Our Town is getting a Broadway revival starring two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman as the Stage Manager in 2021. To Kill a Mockingbird director Bartlett She…

Dustin Hoffman to star in first Broadway show since 1989 by Deadline

It will be Hoffman’s first Broadway role since 1989’s "The Merchant of Venice."

Bell Shakespeare to broadcast archived productions exclusively for schools by Arts Review

Bell Shakespeare has announced that it will open its archives for a special limited release of production recordings from its recent history, exclusively for schools. From Monday 25 May 2020…

Actors appeal for the 'quality of mercy' in online Shakespeare videos by Chris Wiegand

Judi Dench, Jade Anouka, Harriet Walter and Patrick Stewart are among the stars to perform the playwright’s words online during crisis caused by Covid-19 Coronavirus and culture – a lis…

What Happens To ‘The Merchant Of Venice’ When Shylock Is A Woman? by Artsjournal1

Carey Perloff, who directed Seana McKenna in the role last year in Calgary: “I am not always convinced that cross-gender casting helps illuminate Shakespeare; many of the plays focus so sp…

1930s fascism inspires Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Shylock by Mark Ludmon

By Mark Ludmon Tracy-Ann Oberman talks about playing Shylock as an East End matriarch in the upcoming tour of The Merchant of Venice This post 1930s fascism inspires Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Sh…

Hath Not a Woman Eyes? How a Female Shylock Changes ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by American Theatre Editors

For a production last year in Calgary, a gender switch illuminated the Shakespeare play's conflicts in fresh and troubling ways.

The Merchant Of Venice Tour starring Tracy-Ann Oberman by Douglas Mayo

By Douglas Mayo Tracy Ann Oberman is to play Shylock in Brigid Larmour's new production of The Merchant Of Venice Tour. Book tickets now. This post The Merchant Of Venice Tour starring Tracy…

What I've learned from 10,000 nights at the theatre | Michael Billington by Michael Billington

As Michael Billington, the Guardian’s chief theatre critic, prepares to step down, he discusses what has changed – and what hasn’t – in his 48 years as a nightly aisle-squatter Ten o…

Kate Maltby: Jonathan Miller’s legacy will continue to influence generations to come by Kate Maltby

When I was 13, my mother took me to see Trevor Nunn’s production of The Merchant of Venice at the National Theatre.

Annaleigh Ashford, Jayne Houdyshell & More to Join Angela Lansbury in The Importance of Being Earnest Benefit by Andy Lefkowitz

Roundabout Theatre Company has compiled a talent-packed cast for its upcoming one-night benefit staging of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. The previously announced performance…

Inside the Simply Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice Reading With Al Pacino, Geoffrey Rush, and More by Nathan Skethway

Also featured in this year's iteration of the annual event were Finn Wittrock, Charlaine Woodard, Lily Rabe, and Hamish Linklater.

The Merchant of Venice remains an ugly play for ugly times by Kerry Reid

1938 Italy provides the fascist framework for this Invictus staging. With anti-Semitism on the rise in the U.S. and Europe, it might make perfect sense to revisi…

Photo Flash: Al Pacino, Geoffrey Rush And More Star In SIMPLY SHAKESPEARE: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE At Shakespeare Center of L.A.

Legendary actor Al Pacino joined fellow Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush for Simply Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice.

Finn Wittrock, Charlaine Woodard, More Join Al Pacino-Led Simply Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice by Dan Meyer

The Broadway alums will take part in the reading, which also features Lily Rabe, Geoffrey Rush, and Hamish Linklater.

Fresh, modern & relevant’: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE – Drayton Arms Theatre ★★★★ by Amy Toledano

This very well presented version of The Merchant of Venice is excellently executed, proving to modern audiences that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be complicated in order to understand it.

FIRST LOOK: Take a look at the modern setting for The Merchant of Venice with newly released production shots by Featured Content

Gold lame curtains, hoodies and hi-vis - we wouldn't naturally associate them with Shakespeare, but this is the world of the new production of The Merchant of Venice, currently playing at Dr…