Five Reasons To See…The Merchant Of Venice
Mark Babych steps down as Artistic Director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton next June. Until then, he is directing the opener of the new season, Shakespeare’s classic The Merchant Of Venice (Thurs 18 Sept until Sat 11 Oct) which features ex Coronation Street actress, Jenny Platt.
Before opening night, next week, Mark gives us his five reasons for seeing his Merchant Bard in Bolton.
1. It’s a cracking cast all round, and a great opportunity to see, close up in the Octagon’s intimate space, the hugely gifted David Fielder in his Octagon debut, as Shylock, pitting his wits against another giant of the North West theatre scene, Wyllie Longmore as Antonio.
2. The play is hugely relevant to us today - Money, problems with money, lack of money, desire for money - it’s as true today as it was hundreds of years ago, and, sadly the bigotry that exists within the play serves only to highlight that we learn nothing from history.
3. Tom Scutt, the designer is a Linbury Prize winner for Stage Design - definitely a name for the future, Tom’s North West debut should be a memorable one, catch his work first before he gets catapulted into the national companies and we can’t afford him!
4. Shakespeare - gaining access to these great plays beyond the national companies is an important ingredient to a healthy and bouyant theatre ecology - our greatest humanist dramatist is still alive and well after hundreds of years because he can still speak fundamental human truths to us in ways which are unique and hearing this wonderful language at its best can transport us into greater understanding of ourselves, our frailties and the consequences of our actions on others.
5. It’s my last season here at the Octagon - as ever I’ve tried to do work of ambition and hope that the intention to do the very best work I can is matched by a skill in execution - hopefully the desire to produce thought provoking and challenging theatre will continue long into the future with this great theatre space still punching above its weight for years to come.
-Mark Babych
Check out the Octagon website for more details.
Tickets are also available on 01204 520661.