Shrewd move

It comes as no surprise to Obiter that there are plenty of lawyers out there who like nothing more than acting like drama queens.

But away from the flouncing, pouting and overreactions of office life, there are those who actually prefer to tread the boards.

First we have Stopgap Productions, made up of solicitors and barristers from the City, who are putting on a performance of The Taming of the Shrew (right) in the Temple from 6-8 August.

Denton Wilde Sapte's John Wilks and Rebecca Miller of Travers Smith Braitwaite have taken on the roles of the lovers, Lucentio and Bianca, a name slightly removed from Shakespearean romance by its use in 'EastEnders'.

Travers lawyer Louise Hill is directing and Rachel Charters of Nabarro Nathanson is producing.

All proceeds will be shared by the Solicitors Pro Bono Group, Paddington Law Centre and Richar House, a children's hospice in east London.

Hays ZMB is sponsoring the production.

For tickets (10 each and you can take a picnic), e-mail ProBono@TraversSmith.com.

Meanwhile, the Tricycle Theatre in London is continuing its tradition of using lawyers for a Christmas-time show.

This year's legal panto is to be an edited version of the anti-communist tribunals of Senator McCarthy, 'Are you now or have you ever been? The Hearings of the Un-American Activities Committee'.

Auditions will be held at the Tricycle Theatre on 12, 13 and 16 September, with rehearsals in October.

Applications should be made by e-mail only to: lawyers@tricycle.co.uk.