Shakespeare Retold; Taming Of The Shrew

Shakespeare Retold: Taming of the shrew is a 2005 BBC a production showing a modern adaptation of the original Shakespearean play.

It depicts the story of Kate Minola and her international model sister Bianca and their search for love. 

Kate is portrayed by Shirley Henderson. I feel her character reflects the true Elizabethan style because as soon as we meet her character she is in a suit with no shirt underneath to show her open neckline, a typical styling techniques used in the Elizabethan times.

BBC-Drama-Shakspeare. BBC. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/episode.shtml (Accessed: 10 November 2014).

Her styling during the wedding scene also reflects the Elizabethan era because of the open neckline, tightly pinched in waist and flared, full bodied skirt. 

Shakespeare Retold DVD (no date) Movie Mail. Available at: http://www.moviemail.com/film/dvd/Shakespeare-Retold/ (Accessed: 10 November 2014).

Throughout the film it's suggested that Kate is a virgin which is an iconic trait of Queen Elizabeth I. 

Kate in the film is a political leader which is the same for Elizabeth and it's suggested that she should marry to get further in the political world just as Elizabeth was portrayed to be available and up for marriage. 

Kate's sister Bianca is also reflective of the Elizabethan era. When we see Harry's house it's filled with pictures of Bianca which mirrors Queen Elizabeth I's use of self promotion through the images she put out of herself. 

When Bianca was talking about sex she coyly put her hair up out of the way, this reflects how married Elizabethan women would wear their hair up. 

It's mentioned in the film that Harry thinks the girls aren't even real sisters as he questions if they were swapped at the hospital. This hints to the half sister relationship between Mary and Elizabeth. 

BBC-Drama-Shakespeare (no date) BBC. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/photogallery_bianca.shtml (Accessed: 10 November 2014).

Petruchieo is portrayed as an Earl in the film. A lot of the romantic links Elizabeth was rumoured to be associated with were titled men. 

On his wedding day he showed up in cross dress, this could be hinting at the fact that in the Elizabethan theatre women were not allowed to perform and so men would dress as women. The clothes he wears are very Elizabethan too. He wears a lot of ruffles and fur which are key to renascence styling.