SSITP’s The Merchant of Venice is directed by Dan Stevens and features an all-female cast.

The play tells the story of a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who demands a pound of flesh when Antonio cannot repay his loan. The production explores themes of prejudice, revenge, and redemption. A discussion will be available after each show for those who wish to participate.

Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew, Shylock, to help his friend, Bassanio, court Portia, Renaissance lady of Venice. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now Bassanio's wife, dresses as a judge in an attempt to save Antonio's life. Will she succeed or will Antonio lose a pound of flesh?


SSITP is presenting Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice using an all-women identifying cast. This concept allows us to expand the issues of bias and prejudice suffered by the characters in the play to comment upon contemporary struggles with racism, profiling, and gender bias. Another classic with a twist while staying true to Shakespeare's kind of presentation in Elizabethan England.