Tell us a bit about you, your Shakespeare experience and/or love of Shakespeare and how you came to be a director.

Mags: My love of Shakespeare comes from my high school days where I was lucky enough to have a very inspiring English teacher Miss Nixon whose approach to the Bards work was to make it come alive from the page rather than just reading around the room which I know has been lots of people’s experience.

I took that approach into my own teaching career and when I lived in Warwickshire before I came out to NZ my school regularly took part in Shakespeare Festivals in Stratford including performing in The Dell (on the banks of the Avon).

I was also close enough to be a regular visitor to The Swan Theatre in Stratford and Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

When I came out to NZ my husband’s cousin was performing in Richard 3 and got me involved backstage! I have stage-managed a good few Shakespeare in the Parks since 2011, but I really wanted to try directing adults having worked so much with young people.

In 2018 I directed The Comedy of Errors which was well received and now I am back again after a couple more stage-managing stints with The Taming of the Shrew.

I am a self-confessed Shakespeare-aholic – anything Shakespeare I’m there!

Your adaptation offers a bold, reimagined take on Shakespeare’s work. What inspired your unique visions for The Taming of the Shrew, and how did those ideas shape your direction?

Mags: The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s early plays reflecting the attitudes of the day ( and even now). I’ve always thought Kate was hard done by – so I decided to take the all-female cast approach (turning the theatre rules of Shakespeare’s times on its head) so rather than focus on Kate being made to succumb to male domination turn it into an actual love story with much more focus on the comedy aspects of the suitors and servants and the silly attitudes of men!

Shakespeare’s texts are centuries old but remain highly relevant today. How did you navigate the play to connect with contemporary audiences?

Mags: I hope that my version of the play will provide comic moments to be enjoyed by all – even those not really ‘into Shakespeare’ – but will also be appreciated by those who know the story recognising that it’s really been hard for a woman to make it in a man’s world for centuries but now we are breaking through the glass ceiling more often – and just like Kate get what she wants rather than what she was ‘allowed to have’.

As a director, what has been the most challenging scene or moment to bring to life in your productions?

Mags: The most challenging part for me in all honesty has been having all the cast at rehearsal the same time!
When we are able to do complete scenes with everyone who is in it, there are some great moments which I hope the audiences will be entertained by.

Can you share an example of a standout moment with your cast or creative team that shaped your vision or brought new depth to the performance?

Mags: Whilst I am loathed to single anyone out, I am secretly patting myself on the back with the casting of Tranio. The actor completely gets what performing Shakespeare is about – that it’s not just the words on the page but what you do with them. This has helped others to relax a little into their roles and play with their characters which is satisfying as a director. You can share your vision but it’s the actors job to make it come alive.

What do you hope audiences take away from The Taming of the Shrew?

Mags: I hope audiences will leave The Taming of the Shrew having enjoyed a laugh and appreciating that in the battle of the sexes there is no one winner – we are all humans after all!

The Auckland Shakespeare in the Park season runs from 18th January – 15th February. Click here to find out more or book to see what these two incredible directors have created.