…however, thankfully, this time around the fuss is merely Nottingham Shakespeare Company bringing another ‘al fresco’ production to Ruddington!
Following on from the success of ‘The Comedy of Errors’ last summer, next month NSC is staging a free 90-minute open-air production of The Bard’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at nine outdoor venues around Nottinghamshire, including Ruddington on the afternoon of July 8th.
Through performances, workshops and outreach programmes, NSC strives to foster a love for William Shakespeare and the performing arts in the community. This particular play is described as a tale of mistaken identities, romantic misunderstandings, and uproarious antics. Set in the Italian town of Messina, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ follows the journey of two pairs of lovers.
Emma Carlton and Christopher Collins return to the company as Beatrice and Benedick, who tear into each other with witty banter while denying their affection for each other. Hero and Claudio, young lovers facing obstacles on their path to marriage, are played by Grace Deavall and Assistant Director Alastair Fiori-McPhee. Amidst a whirlwind of gossip and trickery, the two pairs of lovers navigate the complexities of love, loyalty, and deception.
Bronwyn K. Crooks joins the company as the villainous Don John, whose schemes and machinations threaten to derail the happy ending. She is joined by company regulars Jonathan Mansfield as henchman Borachio, and Richard Young as Hero’s father, Leonato. The cast is rounded out by experienced actors, Kasia Cichocka and Toni Sherwood-Pearce.
Director Michelle-Louise Wright (who also plays Don Pedro) hopes Nottingham Shakespeare Company manages to create an “immersive theatrical experience” which appeals to Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike. She aims to bring a fresh perspective to each play whilst staying true to the spirit of the original text.
Expressing her excitement about NSC’s production of “the original rom-com”, she says: “Our ensemble is stuffed full of stellar talent with new faces and old favourites giving amazing performances. Every rehearsal has me in stitches or welling up with tears. You can’t get better than ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in the summer sunshine!”
Their Ruddington performance on The Green, courtesy of Ruddington Parish Council, is at 2pm on Saturday July 8th 2023. There are no tickets or admission fee – we can simply turn up a little in advance with our chairs or blankets – maybe even a picnic? However, a collection will be made after the performance for any audience members who wish to donate towards the staging costs.
After their ten July performances in Nottinghamshire, this year NSC has also been given the honour of being invited to play for The Royal Shakespeare Company in The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon – William Shakespeare’s own hometown – on August 20th.
