AT the end of National Women's Week it is fitting to remember the words of Shakespeare: Stop your whining, woman, and get in that kitchen until I decide to make merry sport with you.

Of course, I'm paraphrasing. But the meaning is the same in Katharine's epilogue at the end of The Taming of the Shrew: "A woman moved is like a fountain troubled/ Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty./ And while it is so none so dry or thirsty/ Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it./ Thy husband is thy Lord, thy life, thy keeper."

Fair enough, as this was written 400 years ago when women weren't allowed to even say these lines on stage.

But it was only 20 years later when another playwright, John Fletcher, took up the feminist cause by writing a sequel and answer to the play, The Tamer Tamed.

In his play Petruchio, who tames Kate in Shakespeare's original, finds himself being tamed by his second wife Maria.

But, like all good plays that rock the boat and tilt the status quo, it was promptly forgotten and lost.

Now both plays are being performed side by side by the RSC with Alexandra Gilbreath taking on the roles of both Kate and Maria.

"The Tamer Tamed was completely revolutionary," said Alexandra.

"In the epilogue it says men and women should live together in equality.

"It would have been revolutionary at the time to have a male representing a woman on stage saying women should be equal."

But how much has really changed in 400 years?

"Even today on television there is the programme called Wife Swap," said Alexandra.

"Would there ever be a programme called Husband Swap?"

Despite her submission, Kate is one of Shakespeare's most famous women and has been performed by a plethora of actors.

"It is always a hindrance being in the footsteps of other actors," said Alexandra.

"But the Tamer Tamed is almost a new play because it is so rarely performed.

"Also, my Kate is very different.

"She is often portrayed as glamorous, but my Kate isn't.

"She wants to get married but wants to do it on her own terms.

"Maria is very different.

"To manipulate Petruchio she behaves very badly.

"When he pretends to be sick she says he has the plague and empties his house.

"She is always one step ahead.

"Kate would throw herself at a door until it opened but Maria would unlock it and walk through."

Even though Shakespeare would later collaborate with Fletcher, the difference between them is broad.

"The structure of Shakespeare is more open and more sophisticated than John Fletcher," said Alexandra.

"Shakespeare's verse has certain beats that as an actor you rely on. John Fletcher is more anarchic.

"It feels like it is the master and fledgling, even though Fletcher had written plenty of plays."

Although Alexandra is celebrating her tenth anniversary with the Royal Shakespeare Company, she is also an accomplished star of the small screen, appearing in Happiness, Out of Hours, A Touch of Frost and The Brittas Empire.

Fans of BBC series Monarch of the Glen might recognise her as cast regular Stella.

This show required five months of filming in the middle of nowhere in the Highlands.

"I didn't realise there was anywhere remote left in the country until I got up to the Highlands," she said.

"When I'm doing TV I prefer TV, but when I'm doing theatre I prefer theatre," she said.

"There is always a thrill about performing in front of an audience which you don't get in front of the camera.

"I love it here in Stratford. There are very theatres that have the budget for this kind of rehearsal time.

"It's wonderful to get the opportunity to discover and develop these beautifully written plays."

Tamer Tamed previews at from Thursday, March 6, at the Swan Theatre, with the last performance on Saturday, November 8.

The Taming of the Shrew previews from Monday, March 31, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until Saturday, November 8. Tickets aare available on 0870 6091110.