Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare.

Directed by Sam Pascoe.
Starring; Jess Bates, Chris Bryan, Alex MacDonald, Natalie Braid, Craig Serventy, Luke Thornborough.

* ALL BOOKINGS AND COLLECTION OF TICKETS ARE FROM THE MAIDMENT THEATRE, 8 ALFRED STREET.

Shakespeare under the stars!

The University of Auckland’s 49th Outdoor Summer Shakespeare invites you to discover some of the country’s brightest emerging talent against a magical and iconic backdrop – the beautiful University Clocktower.

Much Ado About Nothing is a light-hearted romp that follows the fortunes of two pairs of lovers: Beatrice and Benedick, staunch advocates of singledom, and their comrades Claudio and Hero, whose sweet and innocent love for each other renders them virtually speechless. Much mirth, mayhem and mischief inevitably ensue...

Just one year from its Golden Anniversary, the Outdoor Summer Shakespeare again welcomes acclaimed NZ actor and noted Shakespearian, Michael Hurst, in the role of production advisor, as he mentors talented young director Sam Pascoe (Breaking Legs Theatre Co).

Pascoe and his team see their audience transported to post-World War 2 England in the Golden Age of the ’40s, where ‘swing was the thing’. A live band, in its own rotunda, will add period colour with catchy ragtime tunes (composed by Celeste Oram), accompanying era-appropriate song and dance. It is Shakespeare; twisted, perhaps, but traditional in its interpretation and highly accessible in its language.

Since its first production of Hamlet in 1963, AUSA’s Outdoor Summer Shakespeare has been a highlight of the Auckland theatre calendar. Do not miss the aligning of these stars - join the Bard, the lovers, the soldiers and the band as they walk out under the night sky to deliver Much Ado About Nothing.

"Well-paced charmer" - Theatreview, 7/3/12
"Shakespeare does it again" - Theatre Scenes, 10/3/12