The Taming of the Shrew: Sound Design

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare raises question of control, domestic abuse, and human ownership. Queensland Theatre’s 2021 production used an adaption of the original text to turn a critical lens on these issues in the post #MeToo environment.

To create the sonic world of this adaption, it was critical to question how the production’s sonic elements could be developed to reframe the original play in such a way to make it appropriate for a modern audience. Combining current techniques drawn from Aural Scenography, in combination with more traditional theatrical sound design approaches, this practice-led investigation explored the fine balance between being faithful to a work’s intention while simultaneously subverting it, all in an effort to ultimately serve the sonic experience of the audience.