For his adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, Van Hove chose not a traditional comedy but a sharp and contemporary reading of the relationship between Katharina and Petruchio. The production showed how a centuries-old text can still raise questions about love, power and the expectations society places on men and women.

The powerful interplay of Halina Reijn and Hans Kesting formed the heart of the production. Their performances made The Taming of the Shrew a production that stayed in the repertoire for years and grew into one of the company's best-loved Shakespeare productions.