The Merchant of Venice Live at Shakespeares Globe

Portia a wealthy heiress of Belmont is forced to set her suitors a challenge The winner will win her hand in marriage the losers will lose her hand and much more In Venice the epicentre of consumption speculation and debt Bassanio borrows money from his friend Antonio to finance his attempt Antonio in turn takes out a loan from the moneylender Shylock The loan will be repaid when Antonios ships return to the city But if the ships fail to return and the money cannot be repaid Antonio will give to Shylock a pound of his own flesh And they do fail And Shylock will have his bond