Award-winning theatre company Antic Disposition have confirmed the talented cast of actors and musicians to bring Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy Much Ado About Nothing to audiences around the UK this summer.
Nicholas Osmond (Scar/Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King; Scrooge in Creation’s A Christmas Carol) and Chiraz Aich (Ariel in The Tempest for Companie Lardenois; Private Lives at Octagon and New Vic Theatres) join Antic Disposition for the first time to take on the lead roles of Benedick and Beatrice – the sparring partners and reluctant lovers whose love-hate relationship forms the heart of this comic play.
Other new cast members include Tommy Burgess (Buried Child at Trafalgar Studios) as Borachio, Theo Landey (Shakespeare in Love at the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town) as Don Pedro, Molly Miles (the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach) as Margaret, Alexander Varey (The Adventures of Robin Hood at Brighton Open Air Theatre) as Claudio, and Alfie Webster (Trump’s Women) as Don John.
Returning to the company from Antic Disposition’s acclaimed production of Henry V are Floriane Andersen as Hero, Louis Bernard as Dogberry and Chris Hespel as Leonato, while Scott Brooks returns from Antic Disposition’s A Christmas Carol and The Comedy of Errors in the role of Verges.
Combining the verbal fireworks of Shakespeare’s wittiest play with sharp physical comedy, Much Ado About Nothing is directed by Ben Horslen and John Risebero (who is also the designer), with composition and musical direction by Nick Barstow, choreography by Lucie Pankhurst and lighting design by Lizzy Gunby.
Set in a sun-drenched French village celebrating the new peace of 1945, Antic Disposition’s Much Ado About Nothing draws its inspiration from the beloved films of French comic genius Jacques Tati (Jour de fête; Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot; Mon Oncle) while being set to a score of live music and songs of the period.
Staged in seven of England’s most beautiful and ancient cathedrals, including Ely, Gloucester, Peterborough, Ripon and Wakefield, as well as Southwell and Beverley Minsters, the tour will conclude at London’s historic Gray’s Inn Hall – one of the few remaining original Shakespearean venues, having hosted the first recorded performance of The Comedy of Errors in 1594.
