Praise for The Merchant of Venice:
"...a truly exceptional production, that is pretty much faultless...
...Tom Scutt's smoke-and-mirrors design is exquisite; all burnished metal, sharp suits, high heels and studied minimalism. Against this, the production gleams like a diamond, aided by Brent Lees' burnished lighting and a series of woozy pop songs, used to unsettling effect. Take note, other producing houses; this is a first-rate Shakespeare adaptation...
...Theatrical perfection."
- WHAT'S ON STAGE (five stars *****)
"Mark Babych’s vision of the play is dark and sombre. Even Brent Lees’ golden lighting casts a cold glow over Tom Scutt’s beautiful metallic set. The whole ethos of Venice - glittering, superficial capital of capitalism - is brilliantly evoked by this wonderful design. And the costumes are so well-suited to the characters that they don’t even appear to be costumes."
- UKTHEATRE.NET
"It’s all about money and power. Amid the media feeding frenzy over the global financial crisis, a new production of Shakespeare’s classic could not be more pertinent. Mark Babych’s sterling production, set in the Venice of today, benefits from Tom Scutt’s ominous, slate-grey, chequered design evoking the rain-washed streets of the city."
-THE STAGE
"undeniably brilliant...even in its toughest moments, the play never loses its sparkle."
- BOLTON NEWS
"On a stage that appears to have a floor and a high back wall made from dark, cold marble appears a cast dressed in smart, modern business suits and sporting mobile 'phones in a design by Tom Scutt that could be portraying the recent financial troubles of a group of city traders. "
-BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
"...a truly exceptional production, that is pretty much faultless...
...Tom Scutt's smoke-and-mirrors design is exquisite; all burnished metal, sharp suits, high heels and studied minimalism. Against this, the production gleams like a diamond, aided by Brent Lees' burnished lighting and a series of woozy pop songs, used to unsettling effect. Take note, other producing houses; this is a first-rate Shakespeare adaptation...
...Theatrical perfection."
- WHAT'S ON STAGE (five stars *****)
"Mark Babych’s vision of the play is dark and sombre. Even Brent Lees’ golden lighting casts a cold glow over Tom Scutt’s beautiful metallic set. The whole ethos of Venice - glittering, superficial capital of capitalism - is brilliantly evoked by this wonderful design. And the costumes are so well-suited to the characters that they don’t even appear to be costumes."
- UKTHEATRE.NET
"It’s all about money and power. Amid the media feeding frenzy over the global financial crisis, a new production of Shakespeare’s classic could not be more pertinent. Mark Babych’s sterling production, set in the Venice of today, benefits from Tom Scutt’s ominous, slate-grey, chequered design evoking the rain-washed streets of the city."
-THE STAGE
"undeniably brilliant...even in its toughest moments, the play never loses its sparkle."
- BOLTON NEWS
"On a stage that appears to have a floor and a high back wall made from dark, cold marble appears a cast dressed in smart, modern business suits and sporting mobile 'phones in a design by Tom Scutt that could be portraying the recent financial troubles of a group of city traders. "
-BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
