The Shrew is a fascinating play, with depths that often bemuse and baffle the modern audience.  Kate is one of the strongest and most vital women in Shakespeare's works, yet she undergoes a complete transformation by the end of the play.  How seriously did Shakespeare intend us to take this lesson in handling an independent woman, and how can we deal with this with our different perceptions today?

I was lucky to have a very strong pairing - Mark Wright and Kate Kavanagh - to play Petruchio and Kate, and an experienced and talented backup cast behind them.  Being in the Village meant we could make the most of the Christopher Sly scenes, there being no real barrier btween the audience and the players.  This was also the first season 'on tour'; although we had done a couple of performances away from Little Woodham before, this was our first attempt at spreading our wings.  The cast's ability to turn up at a venue, take a five-minute look around, and then go on and perform superbly was a joy to behold.  Another good year for the Villagers, and a good step forward for the future.