The actress, known for roles including Chrissie Watts in EastEnders, was the first British actress to play Shylock in the production.
Following a successful season at the Criterion Theatre and a sold-out UK tour, Oberman is back in the West End to star in The Merchant of Venice 1936.
The show opens at the Trafalgar Theatre on 28th December until 25th January before heading out on a second tour visiting Liverpool, Bath, Southend, Salford, Fareham, Leeds and Cardiff, finishing in Birmingham on 5th April 2025.
“Demand has been so high that I feel bringing it (the show) back, and this time to the beautiful Trafalgar Theatre and then on a national tour, is essential,” said Tracy-Ann Oberman.
She added: “The message of my female Shylock - based on my great grandma, a widow in the East End standing up to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, with all her neighbours and others horrified by the message of BUF - feels more pertinent than ever. The play is about unity, standing together against hatred and the play’s impact has been beyond my wildest hopes and ambitions for it.”
About The Merchant of Venice 1936
Described as the ‘most important Shakespeare production of the year’, the show sees Shakespeare’s classic transported to 1930s East London against the backdrop of the Battle of Cable Street.
With the city on the brink of political unrest, fascism sweeping across Europe and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists threatening a paramilitary march through the Jewish East End, strong-willed single mother Shylock runs a pawnbroking business from her house in Cable Street where Mosley will march.
When charismatic, anti-Semitic aristocrat Antonio comes to her for a loan, a high-stakes deal is struck. Will Shylock take her revenge, and who will pay the ultimate price?
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
For more information and tickets go to merchantofvenice1936.co.uk
