Although he's done some acting in the past, this is Rich's first outing with OTTC. As for his first Shakespearean character, he thinks Lucentio is, "Handsome and excitable though lacking in intelligence. He knows what he wants but needs a lot of help getting it!"

Steve's been with OTTC from the start and is a stalwart actor in many of our shows. His character spends quite some time and energy chasing Bianca and fighting off Grumio's attentions for her as well!

"There's a great interplay between Hortensio and Gremio", says Steve. "It allows a real comic partnership to be built up between the two. Some in the cast liken them to Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee!"

And the object of so many affections? Well, Bianca is played by Judith Fowler, another longstanding member and former committee member too. "Shrew" marks a return to the OTTC stage for Judith after quite some time - we're only too pleased to see her back in action!

Judith says the plot reflects a society where women are treated as currency. "All the characters, except Kate, play the role that society expects them to and exploit the others to their own advantage - not nice people."

Bianca is, on the surface, sweet and dutiful but actually she's calculating and manipulative. "The sort of younger sister who reduces the other sister to incandescent rage and rightly so", Judith adds.