Bassanio, needing money to become the suitor to Portia, a wealthy heiress of Belmont, asks his friend Antonio, a merchant of Venice, for a loan. Antonio’s money is tied up in shipments away from Venice, so he approaches Shylock, a money-lender. Shylock agrees to lend the money on condition that if Antonio does not pay it back by an appointed time, Shylock may gut a pound of flesh from him. Antonio agrees. Bassanio prepares to leave, allowing his friend Gratiano to accompany him.  

Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s servant, decides to leave him, Lorenzo, with the help of Solanio, Salarino and Gratiano, plot to help Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, to escape. While Shylock is out meeting with Antonio, Jessica and Lorenzo elope with some of Shylock’s money and jewels.  

Meanwhile Portia is unhappy with her suitors. Her father has decreed that she must marry the man who chooses from three caskets the one containing her picture. Fortunately for Portia, the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Aragon both fail, being seduced by the external glamour of the two incorrect caskets. When Bassanio arrives he chooses the right casket. Gratiano falls in love with Nerissa, Portia’s waiting-woman.   

In Venice, Solanio and Salarino hear that some of Antonio’s ships are lost, and Shylock promises to redeem his bond. Another Jew, Tubal, brings him news of Antonio’s loss and Jessica’s new spending habits.  

Portia and Nerissa give Bassanio and Gratiano rings in honour of their love, and make them vow never to be parted from them. Solanio arrives with Lorenzo and Jessica, bringing news that Antonio, unable to repay his loan, has been arrested and that Shylock is demanding his bond. Bassanio returns to Venice with money from Portia to repay the loan. Shylock refuses to listen to Antonio’s pleas.  

Disguised as a lawyer called Balthasar and his clerk, Portia and Nerissa travel to Venice to defend Antonio against Shylock, leaving Lorenzo and Jessica in charge of the house. At the court, the Duke of Venice hears Shylock present his case, and though he protests, he accepts the legal validity of Shylock’s claim. Shylock rejects the offer of the money from Bassanio. ‘Balthasar’ arrives and agrees that Shylock must take his bond if he refuses to be merciful, but only if the pound of flesh is exactly excised and no blood is spilt. Realizing this cannot be done, Shylock tires to leave, but because he has attempted to take the life of Antonio, his goods are confiscated and his life is in Antonio’s hands. Antonio allows him to live if he agrees to become a Christian and gives his possessions as a dowry to Lorenzo and Jessica when he dies. Shylock agrees, and leaves.  

By way of thanks for their work, the disguised Portia and Nerissa each ask for the rings they had given to Bassanio and Gratiano in their true identities. Reluctantly the men agree. Portia and Nerissa then retune to Belmont, where Jessica and Lorenzo are waiting.  When Bassanio and Gratiano arrive soon after, along with Antonio, the women trick their men into begging forgiveness for giving their rings away. They then reveal their identities at the court. Antonio learns that his ships are safe. The couples prepare for their marriage.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouses for which he wrote many of his greatest plays. Through the Globe Theatre, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Globe Education, and the Globe Exhibition & Tour, we seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance. 

Since the reconstructed Globe opened for performances in 1997, we have welcomed visitors from all over the world to take part in workshops, lectures and staged readings; to visit the exhibition and tour the Globe Theatre– and of course to watch plays, ranging from productions exploring some of the original practices employed in Shakespeare's theatre to world premières of new writing.   

The Globe's vision continues to grow. In 2012, Globe to Globe, our contribution to the London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad, presented every Shakespeare play, each in a different language, and created a multilingual showcase for Shakespeare, the Globe and London. The completion of the Sackler Studios has allowed Globe Education to develop a hugely diverse programme of schools workshops, public events, university courses and local and London-wide community projects. The recent realisation of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse allows us to present works written specifically for an indoor theatre and to offer a year-round programme of plays and events.