Review: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, The Carrs Wilmslow

Photo credit: Bryan Fowler

Much loved Shakespearean comedy Much Ado About Nothing is brought to life by Time & Again Theatre Company as part of their North West ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ tour this summer.

Directed by Laura Crow and Jon Turner, Time & Again have diverted from the original 16th century Italy setting of the play and have adapted it into a 1950’s British seaside holiday version of Shakespeare’s classic.  The setting isn’t the only thing that has been changed for this new production, as the directors have opted to make one of the story’s central couples, Beatrice and Benedick, a romance between two women rather than a heterosexual couple.  Whilst this may seem like an odd decision for the play’s chosen 1950s setting, Time & Again Theatre Company believe that LGBTQ+ representation in the theatre industry is incredibly important and a directors’ note explains their creative decision by saying “Loving and happy same-sex relationships certainly existed in the fifties, despite prevailing social attitudes, so we feel they deserve to be represented.”

The cast of the company is comprised of Northern based talent, all of whom have been perfectly cast in their roles to bring Shakespeare’s updated tale to life.  A combination of excellent direction and strong character choices make the show genuinely funny and easy to get engrossed in this 1950s world.  Great performances all round from every performer, but a few actors who stand out for all the right reasons are Megan Relph and Laura Crow as Beatrice and Benedick respectively, who go from despising one another to falling for each other when they are duped by friends and family into believing the other is in love with them, Adam Martin-Brooks as the naïve but lovable Claudio, Jessica Ayres as the villainous Doña Joan, and not forgetting Tim Cooper, Keziah Lockwood, Pete Brassington and Megan Crossland as holiday camp staff who work brilliantly and hilariously together in a fashion that is reminiscent of British TV classic Hi-De-Hi.

When performing outdoors in a park during daylight hours, it’s not surprising that there’s no use of stage lighting and fixed scenery for Much Ado About Nothing as there would be in a more traditional theatre venue, but this certainly doesn’t hinder the production in anyway.  If fact, we’d say it adds to its charm as one of the most important parts of a British seaside holiday is the Great British weather (however unpredictable it may be) so the great outdoors feels like the perfect venue for this adaptation.  Set pieces used are simple yet extremely effective in transforming park greenery into a seaside resort in a way which inspires the imagination of audience members.

Enjoy a short summer getaway by taking a trip to see Much Ado About Nothing as Time & Again Theatre Company transport you back in time to the 1950s for a 16th century Shakespearean classic.  A theatrical gem, this is a show you do not want to miss.  Catch it while you can next week in Blackpool – the ultimate British seaside holiday town, as Much Ado About Nothing has already sold out for its show at the Manchester Fringe Festival.  You may even come away singing a classic seaside ditty.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Jess Dalloway

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.