Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew as you’ve never seen it before
As part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Theatre Walley, in partnership with Kashf Foundation, present an Urdu production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew in Oxford.
Oxfam is proud to announce its support for this ground-breaking performance which has been brought to Oxford through the work of a very dedicated committee of local people, helped by the North Wall Arts Centre whose mission is to enable top quality international artists and companies to present their work to local audiences.
The Urdu version of The Taming of the Shrewis Pakistan’s contribution to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre’s presentation of all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in as many languages from around the world. Set in current day Lahore (a centre of learning comparable to Shakespeare’s Padua) the play will star leading Pakistani stage and TV actors such as Nadia Jamil, Salman Shahid and Omair Rana, as well as a host of other upcoming talent. Not only will it be a dazzling performance showcasing Pakistani singers, dancers and musicians, but it will also explore the serious theme of an educated woman’s place in a patriarchal society.
For the Urdu and Hindi speaking communities of Oxford, the Taming of the Shrewwill provide a unique opportunity for high quality entertainment that puts an Asian spin on a much loved and revered English classic.
The play will be on in Oxford from 20 May to 22 May 2012. There was a special preview of the show on 20 May at the Asian Cultural Centre and two fully staged performances on 21 and 22 May at the North Wall Arts Centre in Summertown.
The Taming of the Shrew is part of a Shakespeare mini season in Oxford that began on 7 May with Richard II in Arabic by Ashtar Theatre and Creation Theatre and will end with a production of The Comedy or Errors in Dari Persian by the Afghan theatre company Roy-e-Sabz on 6 June at the Sheldonian Theatre.
Barbara Stocking, CEO of Oxfam said, “Oxfam is delighted to support this great opportunity to showcase the talents of Theatre Walley and the beauty of the Urdu language, Punjabi music and costume in Oxford. Oxfam celebrates 70 years of working with others to end poverty and injustice around the world this autumn and it is a pleasure to be part of this inspiring and diverse cultural celebration here in our home city.”
