Flipping gender

Shakespeare's ideas about gender are fascinating, especially given the 400 years or so that have passed since his plays were first performed.
    The Taming of the Shrew is one of his most difficult plays. It can be very uncomfortable to watch, as Petruchio 'tames' his wife, Katherine. This new production by the Royal Shakespeare Company manages to enhance the discomfort by flipping the genders as men become women and vice versa. Suddenly, you have a woman bullying a man into submission and that's hard to watch.
    Director Justin Audibert does a brilliant job with a cast who take on the matriarchal world with ease. Alongside the performances, Ruth Chan's music adds to the tension to produce a stunning production.