Toby Gordon is bringing a fresh, sun-soaked spin to Shakespeare with The Taming of the Shrew, the latest production from Shakespeare in the Squares. Blending sharp wit, 60s pop bangers, and outdoor magic, this summer’s touring show promises toe-tapping tunes and wild romance in London’s most charming green spaces. We sat down with the director to talk ensemble energy, tackling tricky themes, and why this classic comedy still hits hard in 2025.
What drew you to The Taming of the Shrew for this year’s Shakespeare in the Squares production?
The Taming Of The Shrew was one of the first Shakespeare comedies I saw that made sense to me. The distinctive characters and language are recognisable to a contemporary audience. The play deals with themes of gender, relationships and family – all of which are resonant in 2025. Shakespeare In The Squares’ commitment to producing a *different* Shakespeare play each Summer led me to examine which plays the company had not yet produced and Shrew stood out as a great fit for our storytelling style and dedication to live music.
The show features toe-tapping pop classics woven into Shakespeare’s original text. How did music help shape your interpretation of the play?
A personal interest in the early age of mass-distributed recorded music and its impact in bringing people together led me to consider the parallels with Shakespeare’s early works and his use of songs – particularly in the comedies – to help us interpret mood and feeling.
The upbeat and catchy popular music from the 50s and 60s has a sustained cultural resonance and showcases brilliant and innovative artists in an age before synthesisers and autotune. Shakespeare In The Squares’ commitment to acoustic instruments and voices felt like a natural fit for these songs.
Shakespeare in the Squares takes theatre into London’s green spaces. How does the outdoor, site-specific setting influence your directorial approach?
Every venue we play is different and asks something different from the show and performers. What unites the venues we play is the spirit of London in the Summertime. With outdoor theatre, the energy of the capital during the Summer months is infectious – whatever the weather! As director, my aim is to equip the team with a robust story that is flexible in the telling – allowing them to make the most of the unique landscapes and audiences they will encounter on the tour.
The Taming of the Shrew has long sparked debate over its gender politics. How are you tackling the play’s more challenging themes in 2025?
In 2025, pre-conceptions about The Taming Of The Shrew’s controversial themes can easily eclipse the entertainment and humour offered by the narrative. It’s important to consider the piece as a whole and to recognise that Shakespeare frequently presents the characters’ flawed behaviour as humorous not because it is right, but because it is outrageous.
The cast features exciting emerging talent and returning favourites. What was your process for bringing this ensemble together?
As Shakespeare In The Squares has grown as a company we have developed a rich network of performers and creatives. Our aim is to continue to grow this pool and we are always on the lookout for new talent and creative relationships. In my role as director I stand deeply committed to the principles of ensemble and teamwork. When recruiting for this production these values were foremost in my mind. This has led quite organically to what feels like a healthy balance of returning artists and new faces in our cast and wider team. I’m really excited about the talent on show this Summer and instilling team spirit is a key part of my rehearsal process.
You’ve worked across theatre genres—what’s the unique thrill of directing a Shakespearean comedy like this one?
My predecessor – the estimable Sioned Jones – talks about the contemporary phenomenon of ‘ShakesFear’. I interpret this to mean a feeling of alienation towards Shakespeare’s work that can be compounded by purely intellectual or academic introduction to the plays. When staging the plays, careful consideration of the opportunity and responsibility to allay this fear in our audience is key. It is vital that we lean into the aspects of this play that feel most relatable and understandable to our audience in 2025. For Shakespeare In The Squares, the audience is at the heart of everything we do and the thrill is in redefining their relationships with these classic texts.
What’s been the most joyful or unexpected moment in rehearsals so far?
The most joyful moment of rehearsals so far has been getting the team together with our superb Musical Director Annemarie Lewis Thomas to begin work on the classic pop songs infused into our show. The irresistibly contagious energy of these songs has fuelled the sense of fun in our rehearsal room immeasurably and we can’t wait to share them with you.
For someone seeing Shakespeare live for the first time—why should The Taming of the Shrew in a London garden be their summer must?
This production offers audiences a fast-paced, high-energy foray into one of Shakespeare’s lesser staged comedies. The language and themes in the play will feel familiar and the catchy music will have toes tapping long after the cast have taken their bows. Bring your sunglasses and a picnic and join us to soak up the Summer in the capital’s beautiful green spaces.
xxx
Shakespeare in the Squares presents
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Toby Gordon
Wednesday 4th June – Saturday 12th July