Kiss Me, Kate ~ presented by Gilbert & Sullivan WA at Dolphin Theatre

Passions run high as former spouses feud onstage and off during a musical staging of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.  In the battle of the sexes will true love triumph before it’s too late?

G&S WA is excited to present multi-award-winning musical Kiss Me, Kate – the sophisticated, romantic and hilarious comedy classic showcasing a dazzling Cole Porter score with a brilliant book from Sam and Bella Spewack.

Egotistical leading man, director, and producer Fred Graham is reunited with his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, when the two are brought together to star opposite each other as Petruchio and Katherine in a new adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.

While their barbed and battling relationship puts the entire company on edge, the show’s supporting actress, Lois, finds out that her gambling actor boyfriend, Bill, has racked up an enormous debt and is hiding out at the theatre to evade the collection by local mobsters.

Featuring songs such “So In Love,” “Wunderbar,” “Tom, Dick or Harry,” “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” and “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, Kiss Me, Kate will be directed by Natalee Husk (My Fair Lady) with Musical Direction by Michael Brett (Ruddigore, The Grand Duke), choreography by Chloe Walsh and Assistant Direction by Luke van der Beeke (My Fair Lady).

Don’t miss the delightfully delicious behind-the-scenes high jinks of this irresistible Broadway masterpiece.

“Kiss Me, Kate is a valentine to stage folk, a love letter in song linking Shakespeare and showbiz.” – Variety

“You have only to listen to Porter’s score — a swoon-worthy progression of deftly shifting rhythms and sophisticated rhymes and musical motifs — to understand the show’s timeless charm.” – The Washington Post

“broad, brazen, often shameless and finally irresistible… Kiss Me, Kate asserts that there is still a place for sophisticated, grown-up fun” – The New York Times

Starring ~

Hayley Parker as Lilli Vanessi (Katherine)

Ian Lawrance as Fred Graham (Petruchio)

Taylor Westland as Lois Lane (Bianca)

Calen Simpson as Bill Calhoun (Lucentio)

Sarah McCabe as Hattie

Artemis Lockyer as Paul

Samuel Farr as First Gangster

Tracey Myhill as Second Gangster

Rick Boyd as General Harrison Howell

Quotes from cast:

Hayley Parker starring as Lilli Vanessi (Katherine)

“This beautiful show (within a show) is a time capsule of golden age elegance mixed with witty comedy and magical music. I am bubbling over with excitement to revel in the character of Lilli (Katherine) and the delicious vanity and egotism her and her leading man (Fred) get to explore and exploit. This will be a true commitment to character exploration and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this ‘diva’ of a role!”

Samuel Farr starring as Gangster

“What happens when you cross Cole Porter and William Shakespeare? You get Kiss Me Kate! This show has a little of everything. Singing and Dancing; Shakespearean Comedy, Mistaken Identities... It’s entertaining, vivacious, and calculated to please the discriminating theatregoer. Or at least that's what my character makes of it all, you'll have to come decide for yourself.”

Sarah McCabe starring as Hattie

"a classic Golden Age musical in the style of Carousel and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

Season dates: 2 – 13 October 2024 

Location: Dolphin Theatre – 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 

Ticket prices: $22 – $65 

Tickets are available online: https://www.ticketswa.com/event/kiss-me-kate or by calling TicketsWA on 08 6488 2440, 12 - 4pm weekdays. 

ABOUT GILBERT & SULLIVAN WA 

Bringing entertainment to the people of Western Australia since 1951! 

Over seven decades, the Society has brought laughter and to generations of Western Australians. 

www.gandswa.org.au