Latest news with #TheMerchantofVenice
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh theatre company brings two exciting new shows to the Fringe
Arbery Theatre returns to the 2025 Fringe with two new plays that will entertain and challenge audiences. First up is A Pound of Flesh, a version of Shakespeare's classic The Merchant of Venice, which upturns the original plot and ends in tragedy. That is followed by Transfers - eight short scenes weaving backwards and forwards in time, following £500 as it passes from person to person in an endless loop. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Eleven actors, from seasoned professionals to relative newcomers make up the cast of these very different plays. While A Pound of Flesh uses Shakespeare's original text and words and imagery in his style - "My soul bewitched by young Bassanio, three long days and longer nights his absence hath endured" - Transfers is very much set in modern-day Britain. In the second play men and women suddenly find themselves £500 richer. How did it come to them? What will they do with the money now they have got it? A Pound of Flesh is written and directed by Martin Foreman, whose work first appeared at the Fringe in 2014. Leading the cast of Transfers is director Michael Robert-Brown, whose professional acting career began in 2018. Among the cast are Ollie Hiemann, last seen as Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk in Portobello Town Hall, Shakespeare veteran Danielle Farrow in her first outing as Shylock, and Dunbar-based Kirsten Maguire in a moving role in Transfers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Both plays run throughout the Fringe at the central Edinburgh venue of theSpace on the Mile, with previews on 1st and 2nd August and then every night except 10th and 17th. Tickets available through the Fringe box office or on the door.
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders pays tribute after show star passes away – as BBC says show cast are ‘deeply saddened'
MUCH MISSED EastEnders pays tribute after show star passes away – as BBC says show cast are 'deeply saddened' EASTENDERS has paid tribute to a show legend after he died. The BBC soap posted a tribute to late star Frank Barrie after the legendary actor, director and writer died at the age of 88. Advertisement 2 Legendary actor Frank Barrie died last month 2 The BBC soap paid tribute to him with a touching post on Instagram Credit: BBC The tribute read: 'We are deeply saddened to hear that Frank Barrie has passed away. Our love and thoughts are with Frank's family and friends.' A statement from Frank's agency Scott Marshall Partners stated he passed away on June 30 "peacefully at his home", comforted by his wife Mary and daughter Julia. It read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client, Frank Barrie, at the age of 88. "He died peacefully at home, with his wife Mary and daughter Julia." Advertisement His appearances on EastEnders in 2010 and 2011 marked his most recent time on screen, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a gentleman friend of veteran character Dot Branning, portrayed by the late June Brown. Prior to this final appearance on TV, Frank had featured in countless Shakespearean productions, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. His acting debut came in 1959 during a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. From this came a five-decade-long career in acting, including the creation of his one-man show Macready! which toured 65 countries across the world. Advertisement After a number of Shakespeare roles with the Bristol Old Vic, Frank then joined the National Theatre in 1969. This led him to play many leads in Laurence Olivier's company, including Mirabell in The Way of the World with Geraldine McEwan, Wendoll in A Woman Killed with Kindness with Joan Plowright, and Bassanio to Olivier's Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Other stage roles included performances in The Woman in Black and Lunch With Marlene. His solo show Macready! won Frank the London Critics Plays and Players Award for Best Actor when it was performed in the West End.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Frank Barrie dead: EastEnders star and theatre legend whose career spanned 5 decades dies aged 88 as tributes flood in
EASTENDERS star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88. The actor, director and writer was incredibly successful as a Shakespearean actor throughout his career and in 2010 featured on the long-running BBC soap. 3 EastEnders star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88 3 He had featured in episodes of EastEnders from 2010 to 2011, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a friend of Dot Cotton Credit: BBC 3 Frank was well-known for his frequent portrayals of Shakespearean characters A statement from Frank's agency Scott Marshall Partners stated he passed away on June 30 "peacefully at his home", comforted by his wife Mary and daughter Julia. It read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client, Frank Barrie, at the age of 88. "He died peacefully at home, with his wife Mary and daughter Julia." His appearances on EastEnders in 2010 and 2011 marked his most recent time on screen, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a gentleman friend of veteran character Dot Cotton, portrayed by the late Prior to this final appearance on TV, Frank had featured in countless Shakespearean productions, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. His acting debut came in 1959 during a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. From this came a five-decade-long career in acting, including the creation of his one-man show Macready!. After a number of Shakespeare roles with the Bristol Old Vic, Frank then joined the National Theatre in 1969. Most read in News TV This led him to play many leads in Laurence Olivier's company, including Mirabell in The Way of the World with Geraldine McEwan, Wendoll in A Woman Killed with Kindness with Joan Plowright, and Bassanio to Olivier's Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Frank Barrie dead: EastEnders star and theatre legend whose career spanned 5 decades dies aged 88 as family pays tribute
STAR GONE Frank Barrie dead: EastEnders star and theatre legend whose career spanned 5 decades dies aged 88 as family pays tribute Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88. The actor, director and writer was incredibly successful as a Shakespearean actor throughout his career and in 2010 featured on the long-running BBC soap. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 EastEnders star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88 3 He had featured in episodes of EastEnders in 2010, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a friend of Dot Cotton Credit: BBC 3 Frank was well-known for his frequent portrayals of Shakespearean characters Frank's obituary states that he passed away on June 30 "peacefully at his home", comforted by his wife Mary and daughter Julia. His appearance on EastEnders marked his most recent appearance on screen, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a gentleman friend of veteran character Dot Cotton, portrayed by the late June Brown. Prior to this final appearance on TV, Frank had featured in countless Shakespearean productions, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. His acting debut came in 1959 during a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Canada News.Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Trump faces backlash for antisemitic term ‘Shylock' in speech
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware that the term "shylock" is regarded as antisemitic when he used it in a speech to characterize unscrupulous moneylenders. Speaking to reporters on June 4 after returning from an event in Iowa, Trump stated he had "never heard it that way" and was oblivious to the term being deemed an offensive stereotype about Jews. The term "Shylock" originates from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," where it describes a villainous Jewish moneylender who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor. The Anti-Defamation League, which fights against antisemitism, condemned Trump's usage of the term, saying it "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous." They labeled the president's choice of words as very troubling and irresponsible. In contrast, Joe Biden, while serving as vice president, acknowledged in 2014 that his use of the term during remarks to a legal aid group was a "poor choice" of words. Although Trump's administration has made addressing antisemitism a priority—implementing measures to screen for antisemitic activity when granting immigration benefits and engaging in legal battles with Harvard University over allegations of tolerating antisemitism—the president has a history of perpetuating stereotypes about Jewish individuals. Notably, in 2015, he remarked to the Republican Jewish Coalition that "you want to control your politicians," insinuating that the audience wielded influence through financial means. Before launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump faced significant backlash for dining with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist at his Florida club. Last year, he made controversial comments accusing Jewish Americans who identify as Democrats of disloyalty due to the criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Democratic leaders. Critics argued that this perpetuated antisemitic narratives about divided loyalties among Jews. In his speech in Iowa on July 3, Trump used the term while referencing his signature legislation that Congress had just passed. He remarked, "No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some cases, a fine banker and in some cases shylocks and bad people." When questioned later about the term's antisemitic connotations and his intentions, Trump replied, "No, I've never heard it that way. To me, a shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently from me. I've never heard that." The Anti-Defamation League emphasized that Trump's use of the term highlights the persistent lies and conspiracies regarding Jews in the country, stating, "Words from our leaders matter, and we expect more from the President of the United States."
