Much Ado About Nothing
2006
2nd to 5th August
Directed by 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 Pedro | Joe Kao |
| Benedick | Marcel Bruneau |
| Claudio | Tom Bailey |
| Don John | Iestyn Thomas |
| Borachio | Will Long |
| Conrade | Henry Morris |
| Leonato | Richard Carwardine |
| Antonio | Charlie Guest |
| Balthasar | Andrew Frank |
| Friar Francis | Ian Wood |
| Hero | Annie Sheen |
| Margaret | Ele Beattie |
| Ursula | Linda Kirk |
| Ann (a servant) | Ann Christys |
| Beatrice | Abbey Wright |
| Dogberry | John Skevington |
| Verges | Martyn Wigley |
| Sexton | Richard Morris |
| Watch | Mike Hall, Tim Chadwick, Clive Burgess |
| Messenger | Todd Elliot |
| Boy | Harry Booth |
| Attendants, dancers etc. | Helena Clowes, Ann Christys, Jane Morris |
Crew
| Director | Georgina Ferry |
| Composer | Richard Morris |
| Musical Director | Henry Ward |
| Lighting and Technical | David Long |
| Set Decoration | David Long, Penny Miltiadou, Kate Sheen, Judith Field |
| Choreographer | Annie Sheen |
| Wardrobe | Stephanie Ross, Claire Milinczuk, Jane Kipling, Kate Sheen |
| Properties | Penny Miltiadou |
| Poster | Georgina Ferry |
| Website | Ed Long |
| Front of House | Vanora Clowes, Jane Hall, Janet Paynter, Geoff & Trish Walker |
| Local Support | Mike and Jane Hall |
| Set | Robert Fitzmartin and Henry VIII |
| Weapons supplied by | History in the Making |
Musicians
| Clarinet | Ann Macleod |
| Tuba | Alastair Aitchison |
| Keyboards | Julian Cima, Henry Ward |
| Percussion | Ann Christys, Jennifer Carrick, Sue Cima |
| Viola | Beatrice Munby |
| Double Bass | Clare Aitchison |
| Voices | Andrew Frank, Jane Morris, Henry Morris, Joe Kao, Tom Bailey, Will Long, Iestyn Thomas, Clive Burgess, Tim Chadwick |