A stunning adaptation, with or without its star

REVIEW: 'The Merchant of Venice 1936' at the New Theatre, Cardiff

Tracy-Ann Oberman's stunning reimagining of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is back in Cardiff this week.

But the star herself did not appear at last night's (Tuesday 18 March) opening night at the New Theatre, as she was sadly "indisposed" and "in isolation", we were told.

So, into the role of Shylock bravely stepped Evie Hargreaves, a talented young actress, who normally plays the parts of Mary Gobbo and Nerissa.

Having been lucky enough to see this play with its co-creator and on-stage star when it last visited Cardiff, I know how much Tracy-Ann Oberman is at its heart. Hers is the face on the posters and in online publicity too. Hers is the voice of the show, because this was and is very much her project.

There's no denying the play loses something without her presence, but Evie Hargreaves deserved her curtain call last night for delivering a superb performance in very challenging circumstances.

Other female roles had to be shuffled in the cast, but you really couldn't tell, which is a credit to the talent and versatility of this ensemble. Hats off to Elly Roberts, Georgie Fellows, Gráinne Dromgoole, Joseph Millson, Gavin Fowler, Xavier Starr, Mikhail Sen, and Alex Zur.

Switching the action from historic Venice to the East End of London during the Great Depression and making the money-lender Shylock a working-class woman, The Merchant of Venice 1936 delivers a powerful and memorable piece of theatre.

I was full of praise for this stunning production when it last visited in autumn 2023. In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, it was a timely reminder of the constant presence of anti-semitisism.

Almost 18 months later, that hasn't changed. As I wrote then: "Sadly, it’s as relevant today as it was in 1936 when it’s set and the 1590s when it was written".

The play takes us to a time when fascism is winning support across Europe, including in Britain, as Oswald Mosley's 'Blackshirts' threaten to take control of the streets and drive out the Jewish community. Against this backdrop, Shylock, a strong-willed single mother and businesswoman, faces abuse and threats as a Jew, and is desperate to protect her daughter’s future.

Evie Hargreaves - a superb performance in difficult circumstances

When the popular merchant Antonio, a Blackshirt himself, comes to her for a loan, they strike a high-stakes deal for that famous pound of flesh.

As I highlighted last time, costume and set designer Liz Cooke captures a starkly fractured 1930s London which is home to a working class struggling to make ends meet and an aristocracy who can afford to play frivolous courtship games and write off any debt if they choose to.

When I saw the play first time around, I did think the final scene at the Battle of Cable Street seemed a little disjointed from the rest of the play. But headlines and newsreel footage, projected on to the set, do prepare us for this confrontation, as the fascist threat grows.

Even without its charismatic star, I stand by my conclusion from last time: "This is a stunning adaptation, which I would urge you to see – not just as an exciting new version of a sometimes ‘problematic’ play, or as a brilliantly performed piece of theatre, but also for the light it shines on the scourge of antisemitism".           

The Merchant of Venice 1936 is adapted and directed by Brigid Larmour from an idea by co-creator Tracy-Ann Oberman. It plays at the New Theatre until Saturday (22 March). Tickets are available from the box office on 0343 310 0041 or online here.

Review by Andy Weltch

We received free tickets for this performance in exchange for an honest review