The Merchant of Venice

In this lavish stage production, Oscar winner Laurence Olivier takes on one of literary history's most enigmatic and challenging characters: the vengeful moneylender of Venice, Shylock. Adapted from Jonathan Miller's brilliant London stage production, this updated interpretation of Shakespeare's masterpiece shifts the setting from Elizabethan times to the late 19th Century - allowing for a new relevance for contemporary audiences, and a deeper understanding of the central character. Joan Plowright, Jeremy Brett, Michael Jayston, Anthony Nicholls and Denis Lawson also feature among the cast of the production, which is adapted and directed by acclaimed screenwriter, director and theatre trainer John Sichel.