Much Ado About Nothing
2006

2ail i 5ed Awst
Cyfarwyddwyd gan Georgina Ferry

He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him.
— Beatrice Act II Sc 1

The "merry war" between Beatrice and Benedick makes a surprisingly modern love story. Friends trick the couple into falling in love, but they find that under all their witty banter their feelings are genuine.

Meanwhile an evil plot to destroy another couple's happiness is confounded by the well-meaning nosiness of good neighbours.

A close-knit community in which everyone takes a little too much interest in each other's affairs provides the background to one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies...

They say the lady is fair and wise, but for loving me. By my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her.
— Benedick Act II Sc 3

Cast

Don PedroJoe Kao
BenedickMarcel Bruneau
ClaudioTom Bailey
Don JohnIestyn Thomas
BorachioWill Long
ConradeHenry Morris
LeonatoRichard Carwardine
AntonioCharlie Guest
BalthasarAndrew Frank
Friar FrancisIan Wood
HeroAnnie Sheen
MargaretEle Beattie
UrsulaLinda Kirk
Ann (a servant)Ann Christys
BeatriceAbbey Wright
DogberryJohn Skevington
VergesMartyn Wigley
SextonRichard Morris
WatchMike Hall, Tim Chadwick, Clive Burgess
MessengerTodd Elliot
BoyHarry Booth
Attendants, dancers etc.Helena Clowes, Ann Christys, Jane Morris

Crew

DirectorGeorgina Ferry
ComposerRichard Morris
Musical DirectorHenry Ward
Lighting and TechnicalDavid Long
Set DecorationDavid Long, Penny Miltiadou, Kate Sheen, Judith Field
ChoreographerAnnie Sheen
WardrobeStephanie Ross, Claire Milinczuk, Jane Kipling, Kate Sheen
PropertiesPenny Miltiadou
PosterGeorgina Ferry
WebsiteEd Long
Front of HouseVanora Clowes, Jane Hall, Janet Paynter, Geoff & Trish Walker
Local SupportMike and Jane Hall
SetRobert Fitzmartin and Henry VIII
Weapons supplied byHistory in the Making

Musicians

ClarinetAnn Macleod
TubaAlastair Aitchison
KeyboardsJulian Cima, Henry Ward
PercussionAnn Christys, Jennifer Carrick, Sue Cima
ViolaBeatrice Munby
Double BassClare Aitchison
VoicesAndrew Frank, Jane Morris, Henry Morris, Joe Kao, Tom Bailey, Will Long, Iestyn Thomas, Clive Burgess, Tim Chadwick