“It’s Shakespeare but not as you imagine Shakespeare to be.” So say the cast of Much Ado About Not(h)ing, the new staging of The Bard’s comedy which brings the action into the world of social media and encourages audiences to leave their phones on. Watch them talking about the production, then book your tickets!
The interactive, immersive production runs at the Cockpit Theatre from 20 to 22 June 2019.
In fair London, where we lay our scene, Pedro Don has just returned from a six month deployment in Afghanistan. Ancient grudge has broken to new mutiny between Pedro and his half-sister Joan upon the recent death of their father, from whom Joan has been estranged since she left home. In response to his father’s last request, Pedro attempts to build a relationship with 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 home with his daughter Hero, niece Beatrice and sister Ursula, who is waiting to hear from her son, Sean, injured in Afghanistan.
Adapted and directed by Kelly Wilson, Much Ado About Not(h)ing retains Shakespeare’s original text, though some of it has been reshaped into lyrics for original songs created by Alex Loveless and Scott Howland. Situations, language and characters have been altered to create a play reflecting 21st century society.
Tamsin Lynes
Joanna Clarke and Oliver Franks lead the cast as Joan Don and Pedro Don, with Gunnar DeYoung as Benedick and Tamsin Lynes as Beatrice. That cast is completed by Nathan Dale, Drew Paterson, Kate Brown, Robyn Caldwell, Leroy McGillan, Keanan Cantrell and Nini Ugulava. Choreography is by Darren Royston.
While most theatre productions remind audiences to turn off their mobile devices before a performance, Much Ado About Not(h)ing encourages audiences to keep those devices turned on. This way they can watch both the live performance playing out in front of them and the online drama taking place simultaneously on Facebook.
Much Ado About Not(h)ing’s cast on why you should see the show
