Gareth Armstrong's award winning play confronts and confounds the stereotypes through the eyes of  Shylock's only friend--and the only other Jewish man in all of Shakespeare -Tubal. Promoted to the center stage from his minor role in The Merchant of Venice he proves a born comic storyteller. Celebrating the richness of Shakespeare's language and conjuring up a whole cast of characters from   Portia to Pontius Pilate, from Antonio to the merchant, to Adolf Hitler, and from Dracula to the Wandering Jew this dazzling, moving often hilarious play is a fascinating exploration of Shylock and his people.

About Gareth Armstrong

Born in Wales, he graduated in Drama from Hull University, and began his professional career in regional theatre.  He has played in the West End, and as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company has worked in Stratford and at the Aldwych.  His work as a director includes founding the Made in Wales Stage Company, formed to present new Anglo-Welsh play writing, and he was an Artistic Director of Cardiff's Sherman Theatre.  As a freelance director he has worked in Salisbury and Northampton, and on touring productions - most recently Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act and The Gospel According to John. Shakespeare has taken him to over thirty countries worldwide as an actor, director, and teacher, and he has played roles ranging from Puck to Richard III, and from Andrew Aguecheek to Macbeth.  In collaboration with the British Council he has toured Shylock all over Europe, as well as playing in New Zealand and extensively in the United States.  He is an associate director of the American based A.C.T.E.R. Company.

"Reading Gareth Armstrong's book [A Case for Shylock] reminded me why I like nd admire actors so much.  He has the actor's gift of being totally serious about his work without taking himself seriously."

-Judi Dench