Venice, 1596 and Antonio, an honourable merchant, enters into a chilling contract to enable his dearest friend to woo a beautiful heiress, whose fate lies waiting within caskets of gold, silver and lead. At the heart of the story stands Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, one of Shakespeare’s greatest and most complex characters. This remarkable play, with its explorations of prejudice, love, justice, and the power of money, deeply resonates to us in these present turbulent times, but it also stands alone, as a truly gripping story.