Ever since Emma Rice took the helm at The Globe the work coming out of the building has created an undeniable buzz of excitement, and after seeing Much Ado About Nothing, I can see why. Directed by Matthew Dunster, this production has been imaginatively reworked with his fresh approach to such a well-known story. This version is set in the Mexican Revolution of 1910, and while sometimes changes such as this can feel unnecessary and somewhat imposed on the script, this choice lifts the piece giving it a new, more contemporary life. In making this choice Dunster has made Shakespeare more accessible for its younger audiences, and in his own words this production will hopefully, “mean something new to an audience, or mean something to a new audience”.Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, telling a tale of love and deception. This version begins aboard a freight train on a hot morning, the stage quickly bursts to life with many different people going about their daily routine wandering among us as they did so. The hustle and bustle of everyday life, coupled with the Spanish greetings and general joy and happiness in this community instantly draws us into this world in which we have been invited.
We meet Benedick (Matthew Needham), Claudio (Marcello Cruz) and Don Pedro (Steve John Shepherd) who arrive at the house of Leonato (Martin Marquez). Claudio instantly falls in love with his daughter Hero (Anya Chalotra) and the men hatch a plan to get her to fall for him. Meanwhile Hero, her friends and the other men try their hand at matchmaking. The victims being her cousin Beatrice (Beatriz Romilly) and Benedick who incidentally hate each other and have both vowed never to marry.
Needless to say the plan works and they are married at sunset. With the much needed villainy from Juana (Jo Dockery) there are many other twists and turns along the way, and with the story being brought to life by such a terrific ensemble I found myself just as interested in the many sub plots as the main story.
Romilly and Needham are wonderful in the central roles and really are the heart of the piece. They bounce off of each other bringing both of the characters to life with the truth needed to capture the brilliantly written Beatrice and Benedick. From the start we are drawn to them both in their own ways: Needham is hilarious as the hapless Benedick, while Romilly is just as funny as the unrelenting sarcastic Beatrice, you really want them to end up together, if only for the comedy of it. They really are the heart of the piece.
The team is made up of experienced performers and those recently graduated, and this really worked to their advantage. The skill and technique, combined with the fresh, lively approach allowed interesting relationships to form in the most unexpected places. Two particularly lovely moments were that of the match-making. In separate moments both the male and female characters are ‘acting’ in order to get Benedick and Beatrice to believe the other loves them. The somewhat slapstick moments are hilarious as both Needham and Romilly try to eavesdrop from every nook and cranny, while the other characters pretend not to notice them darting around the stage.
Ammara Niwaz plays the infectiously adorable Ursula who cannot help but over-act her part when instructed to do so by Hero, which drew a lot of laughs from the audience.
The use of music and dance was excellent. Effortlessly woven into the story, it was hard to imagine it never being there before. It lifted the piece and on such a lovely evening at The Globe it felt like we really were amongst these people on a similar night in Mexico.
From what I saw last night I expect a sell out run, but if you manage to get a ticket then I urge you to go. This was a fun, colourful and vibrant portrayal of one of Shakespeare’s finest stories with first class storytelling at its core.
Emma Rice is a pioneer for change and development and when she leaves who knows what direction the globe will take next, but one things for sure, if you are lucky enough to see work commissioned by her you will not regret it.
The Underbelly Festival on the Southbank grows bigger and better each year, and this summer the extensive programme includes the award winning production of 'Briefs' returning this year with their brand new show 'Close Encounters'.