Did The Merchant of Venice set the seeds of modern antisemitism?

What happens when a 78 year old woman, who was an escapee from the Warsaw Ghetto, visits the present day Venice Ghetto and meets a group of actors performing The Merchant of Venice?

This play within a play is the starting point for a new perspective on The Merchant of Venice from writer/director Julia Pascal. Using much of the original text inter-cut with new scenes, which add to the backstory of Shylock and Jessica, it is a contemporary exploration opening up issues of antisemitism previously unstaged. A radical new adaptation of Shakespeare’s most controversial play.

‘Truly experimental and truly European… plays with form on every level, fusing dance with theatre, music with text… the effect is always arresting but also serves to make larger points about ‘foreignness’ and ‘belonging.’ 
                                                                   The Guardian on Pascal Theatre Company

Monday October 1st, after-show discussion with Julia Pascal and Dr Susannah Heschel

For further background see this Financial Times article by clicking here

William Shakespeare
Pascal Theatre Company Presentswww.pascal-theatre.com