The sun was shining, the tent was up and the picnics were out – the audience perfectly content waiting for Shakespeare’s Globe’s touring production. And they didn’t disappoint.
The all-female cast burst on to the stage with a folky rendition of Jack Monroe before flying head-first into the world of highly-strung women and stubborn men.
They don’t have physicality to work with, so when it comes to showing how much of a man Petruchio is it’s the small touches that make it – everyone grimacing at his handshake.
The cast work effortlessly together, and there isn’t a single hiccup. Kate Lamb is a touching Katherina while Leah Whitaker is impossible to ignore as Petruchio.
It’s definitely worth a watch while it’s in town.
Until Saturday.