Much ado about Bard’s 1950s timeshift as Sicilian love story comes to Hitchin
Bancroft Players Much Ado About Nothing, June 2015 - Credit: Archant
The magic of an Italian summer holiday romance comes to Hitchin’s Queen Mother Theatre as The Bancroft Players present Shakespeare’s ever-popular comedy Much Ado About Nothing next week.
Bancroft Players Much Ado About Nothing, June 2015 - Credit: Archant
But the production has been brought forward several hundred years from the Elizabethan era when the Bard lived and worked to the 1950s.
The scene is still Sicily, though, where festivities are under way to welcome back heroes Don Pedro and company who have been off bravely protecting local interests.
The sun is shining and love is in the air as Claudio, the hot young man of the moment, falls head over heels in love with high-born Hero. Will it be happy ever after for this star-crossed couple?
Meanwhile love rat Benedick may still secretly have feelings for the tempestuous Beatrice and dark deeds are afoot as the villainous Don John plots his way to power.
Bancroft Players Much Ado About Nothing, June 2015 - Credit: Archant
With live music on the terrace, prosecco and ice cream to get you into the holiday mood, the Walsworth Road production features Leanne Campbell-Phillips and Ross Morris as Beatrice and Benedick and Scott Henderson and newcomer Kelsey Duffy as the young lovers Claudio and Hero.
Leonato, Hero’s long suffering father, is played by Charles Compton, while Matt Gray is in control of the organisation as the Don. Direction is by Rosemary Bianchi.
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The show opens on Monday night at 7.45pm with performances continuing until Saturday night.
Tickets are priced from £8 to £12, visit the company’s website at qmt.org.uk or call 01462 455166 to reserve yours.
Bancroft Players Much Ado About Nothing, June 2015 - Credit: Archant
Bancroft Players Much Ado About Nothing, June 2015 - Credit: Archant
