For our inaugural production, Alchemy Theatre, presented a feminist re-imagining of Shakespeare’s provocative The Taming of the Shrew. In this bold version, co-directed by Anthea Freya Hill and Charlotte Pleasants, women were given pivotal roles which had enormous influence on the unfolding storyline, particularly when examining themes of coercive control, domestic abuse, violence against women.

At the centre of the drama is a warring couple, Katherina Minola and her unattractive suitor Petruchio. She is not easily controlled by the men in her life and is more than an equal match for him, using clever wordplay to outwit his clumsy, roughnecked attempts to woo her. In an unusual twist, the company prepared two different endings and audience members were invited to vote on which ending they wanted, thus causing them to be complicit in the unfolding events.

This production was performed open-air in the grounds of a magnificent, 19th century chateau in Normandy, France. Following a successful run of shows at Chateau Bosguet, the company returned to the city, to perform in a black box theatre in central Paris.