Produced
13th April through 5th 2007
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Liverpool, UK
Written by William Shakespeare
[ A bit about the play]
Directed by, and
adapted for the stage by
Phil Willmott
~~~~~~
Leonato (Peter Bygott), Stephen Billington (Claudio) and Howard Saddler (Don Pedro)
in *Much Ado About Nothing*
~ THE PLAYERS ~
Claudio ..... Stephen Billington Rev Dogberry ..... Stephen Boswell Leonato ..... Peter Bygott Hero ..... Ruth Everett Margaret ..... Ally Holmes Benedick ..... Simon Merrells Don Pedro ..... Howard Saddler Don John ..... Faz Singhateh Conrade ..... Perri Snowdon Beatrice ..... Sally Ann Triplett
~~~~~~ Assistant Directed by Elli Johnson
Design by Christopher Woods
Sound by Jenny Tallon-Cahill
Lighting designed by Hansjorg Schmidt
Costumes Marie Jones
Choreography Ally Holmes
Musical direction Gavin Kaufman
What Peter Grant, at The Stage, had to say about 'Much Ado About Nothing':
Director Phil Willmott ... clearly knows how to deliver Shakespeare that is both magical and accessible.Ruth Everett’s Hero and Stephen Billington’s Claudio are outstanding strong leading players...
Like Kenneth Branagh’s joyous screen adapation, this production is nicely-paced and beautiful to look at. ...This is a vibrant lively production you can not help but fall in love with from start to rewarding end.
What Philip Key, Liverpool Daily Post, had to say about 'Much Ado About Nothing':
'To slightly misquote a famous advertising slogan, the new production from the Liverpool Playhouse looks good, sounds good and, by Jove, it does you good!Looks good? Director Phil Wilmott has set Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing at the VE celebrations in 1945 Britain. Designer Christopher Woods has outdone himself with these scenes, with the sets changing into other places as well, a church vestry and garden included. Costume supervisor Marie Jones has also come up with some great 1940s outfits, no more better displayed than at a masked ball. In short, it looks like an opulent production.
Sounds good? Even before the show opens we get 1940s dance music playing away. The cast also deliver their lines with clarity and a sense of fun that comes right out into the auditorium.
And it does you good? This is Shakespeare as it should be played, accessible, funny (Shakespeare knew how to write a sitcom) and totally delightful.'
Last updated: 9th April 2007
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