Much Ado at Everyman (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Much Ado at Everyman

AUDIENCES at the Everyman Theatre's Other Space are in for a treat from now until March 12 because resident artistic director, Sue Colverd is presenting the Everyman's very own production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Sue's work is well known to Everyman theatregoers since it is she who directs the annual pantomime and this year was no exception.

But as soon as Sleeping Beauty closed after a record breaking production, Sue was recruiting members of the cast to tread the boards again in the Bard's hilarious comedy about the eternal battle of the sexes with all the gossip, jealousy, confusion, deceit and lies that threaten the course of true love, throughout the ages.

The cast includes Aimee Thomas, Fairy Glos in Sleeping Beauty, now playing Hero, and Tim Benton (the villain Molar and the Greek God Pan) now playing Borachio, Conrade and the Friar. And Sleeping Beauty's musical director, Sara Nunn, has composed the score.

"Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's classics in which the themes can be seamlessly translated into modern life. We all know tales of people who hated each other only eventually to fall in love - just like Benedict and Beatrice.

Then there's the wonder of love at first sight that captures Hero and Claudio and - just like real life - when it looks like there's going to be a happy ending, someone comes along to put a spanner in the works. In this case it's Don Juan.

"But along the way there's lots of fun, mistaken identity, playing tricks, singing, dancing and flirting. I think it's one of Shakespeare's sexiest plays," say Sue.

Tickets from the box office on 01242 572573 or www.everymantheatre.org.uk