Mel Giedroyc and John Hopkin star in Much Ado About Nothing, a co-production by Rose Theatre Kingston, Granville & Parham Productions and Antic Face directed by Simon Dormandy.
Beneath its witty surface, Much Ado About Nothing is a powerful exploration of the struggle for love, identity and self-knowledge in a male-dominated world – as relevant today as ever. The Rose’s production will use Shakespeare’s language in a sharp contemporary setting that not only offers glorious opportunities for physical comedy amid the furnishings of a spa hotel but also provides a social context that enhances the darker themes in this timeless comic gem.
Don Pedro is victorious. The turf war in the city is won and the Mafia overlord brings his entourage to Messina, a luxury spa hotel deep in the Sicilian hills, to hide out, recover and party. While Leonato, the hotel owner, fawns over his clan boss, his daughter, Hero, wins the heart of the Don’s young protégé. Meanwhile, Beatrice, the no-nonsense, customer-experience manager, has unfinished business to see to with Benedick, Pedro’s commitment-phobic consigliere. But when Hero is disgraced, the party is over, love turns to hatred and new battle lines are drawn.
The play reunites Mel Giedroyc with director Simon Dormandy after their collaboration on the UK première of Luce by JC Lee in 2016.
Much Ado About Nothing is at Rose Theatre Kingston 13th April – 6th May 2018.
Photos Courtesy: Mark Douet
