Much Ado About Nothing

Sharp tongues and savage gossip fuel a messy, magnetic attraction in this new production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in the Globe Theatre.

Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's romantic comedies, and this production presents it as a story of sharp exchanges and malicious gossip. The war has ended, but the contest for love is only beginning: Beatrice has resolved to avoid men, yet cannot quite leave Benedick alone. Beneath the polished surface of Messina, secrets circulate, reputations are at risk and every character is trying to protect their standing.

The staging is set in a sunlit world of style and status, where appearance matters above all and late-night parties run into the morning. Chelsea Walker directs the production, which is performed at Shakespeare's Globe, a theatre on the South Bank that presents Shakespeare's plays in a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse.

The play deals frankly with bad behaviour, second chances and the difficulty of recovering from old hurts, and the production keeps these themes at its centre. Several performances are offered with captioning, British Sign Language interpretation, relaxed performances and audio description.