The Merchant of Venice at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh

When the Lyceum created The Shakespeare Exchange with New York-based theatre company Theatre For a New Audience, following Zinnie Harris's highly lauded Macbeth (an undoing), I doubt even they knew the impact the company's Edinburgh debut would have on its audiences, and this reviewer in particular.

I have to confess that I do like traditional when it comes to Shakespeare. The last time I saw The Merchant of Venice was at Shakespeare's Globe (with Jonathan Pryce as Shylock) and, in those days, you couldn't get more traditional than that.

So my heart sank when I saw the Lyceum's almost non-existent set – just a slate-grey backdrop and a set of steps – with the cast in modern dress. Nothing more. We were going to be entirely reliant on the actors' delivery of the Bard's words! And, of course, they were American.

Oh, ye of little faith! Any negativity was short-lived as these Americans made Shakespeare their own, retelling the story of the money-lending Jew with such skill and passion that it left me entirely speechless. Never have I been so moved so much by a Shakespeare play. This production is extraordinary.

If you are 'a new audience' member and afraid you may not understand what is going on I urge you to go see, because this company brings to life so vividly the story of Shylock and his demands for a pound of flesh from the unfortunate Antonio that you will feel you are living the events with them. You will fear John Douglas Thompson as Shylock and pray with Alfredo Narciso's terrified Antonio as he prepares for death. And you will feel the menacing atmosphere in the courtroom scene in particular.

Although The Merchant of Venice was written more than 400 years ago, as with all of Shakespeare's plays it tackles so many issues which are common in today's world…love, fear, justice, revenge, racism, religious intolerance and marital abuse. So perhaps traditional productions, with men in tights, aren't really relevant!

Image: Henry Grossman

The Merchant of Venice is at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh until Feb 15

lyceum.org.uk