"The wittily-written love match between Benedick and Beatrice is distinctively delivered by Gunnar DeYoung and Tamsin Lynes. Joanna Clarke stands out for her steely Joan Nicola Don, despite the slighter role. . . The digital design by Zsara Jaeger is beautifully observed, detailed and plausible, projections are well deployed by Liz Leeman and the overall effect is smart and coherent." Dominic Gettins, thespyinthestalls.

 

Cast:

Joan Nicola Don, Pedro’s half-sister, working in military intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanna Clarke

Pedro Charles Don, army lieutenant, Leonato’s godson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oliver Franks

Benedick Howland, sergeant in Pedro’s platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gunnar deYoung

Claudio Parr, corporal in Pedro’s platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathan Dale 

Leonato Elliott, former Mayor of London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drew Paterson 

Ursula Levinson, Leonato’s sister, mother to Sean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Brown

Beatrice Taylor, Leonato’s niece, cousin to Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tamsin Lynes

Hero Elliott-Campbell, Leonato's daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robyn Caldwell

Sean Levinson, soldier in Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leroy McGillan

Borachio Moss, infatuated with Joan, gamer and caterer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keanan Cantrell

Margaret Jeffery, maid for Leonato’s household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nini Ugulava

                                                                                                                                                   

Artistic Team:

Original Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Loveless 

                                                                                                                                                     Scott Howland

Digital Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zsara Jaeger

Choreographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darren Royston

Piano Accompaniment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bobby Scoynes

Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenna Dyckhoff

Guitar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leroy McGillan

Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Liz Leemann

Promotional Filming and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Dorn

               

History:

Much Ado About Nothing is thought to have been written in 1598, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. The play is generally considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies because it combines robust hilarity with solemn meditations on shame, honour, the nature of love and forgiveness and the human power to change and to choose. 

 

When viewed through a contemporary lens, this play seems to be inspired by one alternative title: Much Ado About Noting. During the English Renaissance, ‘noting’ (meaning rumour or overhearing) sounded very similar to ‘nothing’, used in the title of the play. It’s through noting that Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into professing their love for each other and by founding his belief on nothing, Claudio is tricked into refusing to marry Hero. Much of what the characters take note of in this play is based on assorted bits of nothing. This word play has inspired the unusual title for this production, Much Ado About Not(h)ing, the use of the parenthesis indicating that the ‘h’ in the word ‘nothing’ can be retained or deleted: noting or nothing.

 

Synopsis:

Joan Don and her half-brother, Pedro Don, have just returned from a six month deployment in Afghanistan. Ancient grudge has broken to new mutiny upon the recent death of their father, from whom Joan has been estranged since childhood. In response to his guilt-ridden father’s last request, Pedro is attempting to build a relationship with his half-sister Joan. Meanwhile, Pedro’s godfather, former Mayor of London Leonato Elliott, tries to support his godson through this time of grief and reconciliation by inviting him and Joan, along with Pedro’s band of brothers from his platoon, Claudio and Benedick, to a welcome home celebration at his house with his daughter Hero, niece Beatrice and sister Ursula, who is waiting to hear from her son, Sean, who has been injured in Afghanistan.

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Director’s Interpretation:

It is intriguing to observe the connections between the turmoil caused by the events of this play and the evolution of social media. Frequent ‘noting’ of social media and technology is the root of some troubles that people experience in their relationships today, and is reflected in the obstacles between the characters in the play. This performance explores what we, as a 21st century society, take most note of: the people and events that occur around us in the ‘mortal world’, or the ‘digital world’ that we access through our computer screens or mobile phones. 

 

With this concept in mind, mobile devices are an integral element of the performance, inviting audience members to choose between viewing the performance presented by the actors onstage or the digital performance that they can access through Facebook on their mobile phones (or a little of both), thus actively immersing the audience in the dilemma this production endeavours to explore. Digital projection, movement and dance are also incorporated into the performance to present visually elements of Shakespeare’s text, as well as music to heighten moments of emotional joy or turmoil by converting selected Shakespearean text into lyrics for original music, written by Alex Loveless and Scott Howland. This production not only produces an intriguing, contemporary performance of a well-loved Shakespeare comedy, but also provides an exciting and innovative way to explore the impact of social media on 21st century society and our relationships with those we love.