FOR modern audiences the subject matter of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew - the subjugation of a feisty woman by her bullying husband - is understandably hard to stomach.

Of course, there may be a few unreconstructed males around wishing things could be like that again, but the reality is that the play is out of touch with modern sensibilities and leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth.

It is to the credit of the Royal Shakespeare Company, therefore, that they are staging this Shrew at the main theatre in Stratford alongside its antidote, John Fletcher's The Tamer Tamed which, if it had been a Hollywood sequel, would no doubt of been called Taming 2 - the Shrew Bites Back.

It is the first time in 370 years that full versions of both plays have been performed together and Gregory Doran's dynamic productions ably demonstrate that it is not a moment too soon.

The cross casting of the plays, with Jasper Britton playing Petruchio and Alexander Gilbreath playing first wife Katherine in Taming and second wife Maria in Tamed, works brilliantly. Both actors are at the top of their game, but really start firing on all cylinders in the much funnier second play.

Some of the other characters also appear in both, most notably Tranio, played by the commanding Rory Kinnear and Hortensio and Gremio, performed with real comic style by Paul Chahidi and Christopher Godwin.

Although it is a well put together production, it would be a mistake to go and see The Taming of the Shrew on its own. See The Tamer Tamed afterwards and you will be guaranteed a much richer theatrical experience.

Above all, what this pairing of plays highlights most is the vastly superior theatrical space of the intimate Swan Theatre over the big, impersonal RST.

The Taming of the Shrew and The Tamer Tamed are on at the RST and Swan Theatre until November. Tickets are available on 0870 609 1110 or www.rsc.org.uk

Review by MARK JESSOP