The Taming of Kate (2025)

Emma traveled to Milan in 2025 to develop the full-length version of The Taming of Kate. The show was part of Theatre Turnings’ inaugural season.

Originally conceived in Emma’s study abroad course at The University of Oxford in 2019, The Taming of Kate is the fully realized production of her bilingual, dance/theatre adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.

Set against the backdrop of the end of WWII, The Taming of Kate reimagines Katherine, Bianca, and Baptista as an Italian family who immigrated to the US. After finding a sense of purpose as a garage mechanic during the war, the return of the men means a return to “normalcy”, and a taming must ensue. In this version, the taming of the shrew becomes the taming of the immigrant woman, and explores the dangers of stereotypical gender roles, and of forced assimilation.

CAST/CREATIVE

Director/Creator: Emma Denson

Production Design: Emma Denson

Choreography: Luca Villa

Lighting Design: Connor Divers

Technical Assistant: Mart Weghorst

Cast: Sara Santucci, Chris Moran, Emi Padoan, Sara Grassi, Allesondro Monfre

Photos: Connor Divers