The Merchant of Venice 1936

The Merchant of Venice 1936 Tickets

Wilton's Music Hall, London
Booking to 11 November 2023
Not currently booking

Thrilling new Shakespeare adaptation The Merchant of Venice 1936 starring Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shylock.

Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) stars as Shylock in this extraordinary new production based on Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

This thought-provoking and timely reimagining relocates the action to an electrifying new setting; London in 1936. 

With the city on the brink of political unrest, fascism sweeping across Europe and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists threatening a paramilitary march through the Jewish East End, strong-willed single mother Shylock runs a pawnbroking business from her house in Cable Street where Mosley will march. When charismatic, antisemitic aristocrat Antonio comes to her for a loan, a high-stakes deal is struck. Will Shylock take her revenge, and who will pay the ultimate price? 

The Merchant of Venice 1936 is playing at Wilton’s Music Hall in London from 7 to 11 November 2023.

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What's the story of The Merchant of Venice 1936?

It is London in 1936 – fascism is sweeping across Europe, and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists is threatening to march through the Jewish East End.

Shylock (Tracy-Ann Oberman) is a survivor of anti-Semitic pogroms in Russia. A widow, she runs a small business from her dark and cramped terraced house in Cable Street, hoping to give daughter Jessica a better future.

When aristocratic anti-semite Antonio desperately needs a loan, he makes a dangerous bargain with this woman he has spat on in the street.  Will Shylock, bitter from a life plagued by racism and abuse, take her revenge?

Who is in the cast of The Merchant of Venice 1936?

Tracy-Ann Oberman – Shylock

Raymond Coulthard – Antonio

Hannah Morrish – Portia

Adam Buchanan – Bassanio

Jessica Dennis – Nerissa

Priyank Morjaria – Lorenzo

Gráinne Dromgoole – Jessica

Xavier Starr – Gratiano

Alex Zur – Yuval

Who are the creative team of The Merchant of Venice 1936?

Brigid Larmour Director

Guy Rapacioli Assistant Director on placement from East 15

Liz Cooke Costume and Set Designer

Rory Beaton Lighting Designer

Erran Baron Cohen Composer

Sarah Weltman Sound Designer

Richard Katz Movement 

Greta Zabulyte Video Editor


Reviews of The Merchant of Venice 1936

★★★★ "A striking, slick adaptation" - The Guardian
★★★★ "Oberman gives a galvanising central performance" - Financial Times

Read more reviews


Show Information

Performance dates
Booking to 11 November 2023
Age restrictions
12+
Running time
2 hours and 15 minutes, plus interval

Show Photos


Venue Information

Wilton's Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley , London, E1 8JB
Nearest Tube or Train: Tower Hill, Shadwell, Aldgate East
Nearest Buses: 100, N551
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Ticket Information

Official London Theatre tickets for  The Merchant of Venice 1936 at the Wilton's Music Hall, London

Book tickets to The Merchant of Venice 1936 at the Wilton's Music Hall, London with WestendTheatre.com. You will be purchasing official London theatre tickets from an authorised retailer and member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers.


News about The Merchant of Venice 1936

The Merchant of Venice 1936 to play Wilton’s Music Hall in London
The new adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice starring Tracy-Ann Oberman is heading to Wilton's Music Hall in London. The Merchant of Venice 1936 will play Wilton's Music Hall from 7 to 11 November 2023. The play recently opened at Watford Palace - read our reviews round-up - and is now playing at HOME Manchester to 25 March 2023. It then tours to the RSC's Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, before playing at the Wycombe Swan Theatre, Malvern Theatre, Churchill Theatre Bromley, New Theatre Cardiff and York Theatre Royal. The Merchant of Venice 1936 stars Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) as Shylock, with the drama set in 1930's London on the brink of political unrest and with fascism sweeping across Europe. Alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman in the cast are Raymond Coulthard as Antonio; Hannah Morrish as Portia; Adam Buchanan as Bassanio; Jessica Dennis as Nerissa; Priyank Morjaria as Lorenzo; Gráinne Dromgoole as Jessica; Xavier Starr as Gratiano; and Alex Zur as Yuval. The Merchant of Venice 1936 is directed and adapted by Brigid Larmour from an idea by co-creator Tracy Ann-Oberman. Also in the creative team are Costume and Set Designer Liz Cooke, Lighting Designer Rory Beaton and Sound Designer Sarah Weltman. The Composer is Erran Baron Cohen.  The battle of Cable Street, which is central to this new adaptation, took place in 1936 only 10 minutes walk from Wilton's Music Hall. Tracy Ann-Oberman said on Twitter that she was "proud and happy" that The Merchant of Venice 1936 is coming to Wilton's Music Hall, and that "Wilton’s was the site of hiding and rallying against Mosley at The Battle Of Cable Street." More about The Merchant of Venice 1936 tickets The Merchant of Venice 1936 - UK Tour 2023 Watford Palace Theatre: 27 February - 11 MarchHOME Manchester: 15 - 25 MarchRSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon: 21 September – 7 OctoberWycombe Swan Theatre, High Wycombe: 10 – 14 OctoberMalvern Theatres, Malvern: 17 – 21 OctoberChurchill Theatre, Bromley: 24 - 28 OctoberNew Theatre, Cardiff Tuesday: 31 October – 4 NovemberWilton's Music Hall: 7 - 11 NovemberYork Theatre Royal, York: 14 – 18 November
The Merchant of Venice 1936 Reviews
Reviews are coming in for the new adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice - The Merchant of Venice 1936, starring Tracy-Ann Oberman. The play formerly opened last night at the Palace Theatre Watford, where it runs until 11 March 2023, before setting off on a UK tour that will include HOME Manchester (15 - 25 March), and then the RSC's Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Wycombe Swan Theatre, Malvern Theatre, Churchill Theatre Bromley, New Theatre Cardiff and York Theatre Royal. Tracy-Ann Oberman (Noises Off, EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) stars as Shylock, with the drama transported to a 1930's London on the brink of political unrest and with fascism sweeping across Europe. Alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman in the cast are Raymond Coulthard as Antonio; Hannah Morrish as Portia; Adam Buchanan as Bassanio; Jessica Dennis as Nerissa; Priyank Morjaria as Lorenzo; Gráinne Dromgoole as Jessica; Xavier Starr as Gratiano; and Alex Zur as Yuval. The Merchant of Venice 1936 is directed and adapted by Brigid Larmour from an idea by co-creator Tracy Ann-Oberman. Joining Larmour in the creative team are Costume and Set Design by Liz Cooke. The Lighting Designer is Rory Beaton and Sound Design is by Sarah Weltman. The Composer is Erran Baron Cohen.  Tracy-Ann Oberman was recently in the West End starring in Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre, which is still playing until 11 March 2023. Reviews from theatre critics are listed below, including the Guardian, Times and Daily Mail. More reviews to follow More about The Merchant of Venice 1936 tickets
The Merchant of Venice 1936 UK tour announced starring Tracy-Ann Oberman
A new adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is heading off on a tour of the UK. The Merchant of Venice 1936 stars Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner) as Shylock, with the drama set in 1930's London on the brink of political unrest and with fascism sweeping across Europe. The play starts its run at Watford Palace Theatre on 27 February, until 11 March 2023, and then visits HOME Manchester, playing from 15 to 25 March 2023. The Merchant of Venice 1936 then travels to the RSC's Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, before playing at the Wycombe Swan Theatre, Malvern Theatre, Churchill Theatre Bromley, New Theatre Cardiff and York Theatre Royal. Alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman in the cast are Raymond Coulthard as Antonio; Hannah Morrish as Portia; Adam Buchanan as Bassanio; Jessica Dennis as Nerissa; Priyank Morjaria as Lorenzo; Gráinne Dromgoole as Jessica; Xavier Starr as Gratiano; and Alex Zur as Yuval. The Merchant of Venice 1936 is directed and adapted by Brigid Larmour from an idea by co-creator Tracy Ann-Oberman. Joining Brigid Larmour in the creative team are Costume and Set Design by Liz Cooke. The Lighting Designer is Rory Beaton and Sound Design is by Sarah Weltman. The Composer is Erran Baron Cohen.  Tracy-Ann Oberman said in a press statement: "It has a been a lifelong dream of mine to bring this play to the stage in a new way, reimagining Shylock as a one of the tough, no-nonsense Jewish matriarchs I grew up around. I am delighted this project is finally happening, and look forward to sparking debate and enlightening people about a pivotal but largely forgotten part of British history - just how close the establishment were to Oswald Mosley and his British Union Of Fascists. I started my career in the Swan RSC back in 1992 and so to play there again as Shylock is a ‘pinch me’ moment. I cannot wait to take this important, sharp, sexy and heartfelt production to theatres around the country." More about The Merchant of Venice 1936 tickets The Merchant of Venice 1936 - UK Tour 2023 Watford Palace Theatre: 27 February - 11 MarchHOME Manchester: 15 - 25 MarchRSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon: 21 September – 7 OctoberWycombe Swan Theatre, High Wycombe: 10 – 14 OctoberMalvern Theatres, Malvern: 17 – 21 OctoberChurchill Theatre, Bromley: 24 - 28 OctoberNew Theatre, Cardiff Tuesday: 31 October – 4 NovemberYork Theatre Royal, York: 14 – 18 November

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