In christening shalt thou have two godfathers…                                                                                  (Act IV, Scene 1)

The Merchant of New York is a fast-paced re-imagining of ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Shakespeare’s notorious courtroom drama. Rewritten entirely in blank verse, Cracked Shakespeare’s new, ingenious production offers up a taut, roller coaster ride, where  characters veer wildly off script, nothing is quite as it seems, and the mystery behind Shylock’s infamous demand for a pound of Flesh is finally  revealed.

‘All that glisters is not gold,’                                                                                                             Well, often have I heard that quote mistold

This clever mash-up, full of smoke and mirrors and signifying nothing, liberally borrows from The Bard’s other great works, and also plays with the  art of acting, stage conventions, and even the process of writing itself. When the writer stops playing God, where is the justice and where is the mercy?

Written by actor, director, musician, cartoonist, and Whistler contributer, Nathan Ariss, the play won the Rialto Theatre’s 2016 New Writing award. Full of humour, insight, and tension, ‘The Merchant of New York’ promises to be a real treat for those both new to Shakespeare, and those with his words lovingly coursing through their veins.

29 – 31 May @ 7.30pm

Rialto  Theatre. 11 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3FE.

Tickets £10/£8 concessions

www.rialtotheatre.co.uk    Box Office: 01273 725230

www.brightonfringe.org Box Office: 01273 917272

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