Outdoor theatre company Shakespeare’s Wanderers are bringing their WWI-inspired production of Much Ado About Nothing to the Guildford Fringe Festival on Sunday 28 July. Their charming new take on one of the Bard’s most beloved comedies will take audiences back to 1918 shortly after the end of the war.
This exciting production will be staged at the stunning Clandon Wood Natural Burial Reserve, a short drive from Guildford’s town centre. With six versatile actors, the company will take audiences on a gorgeous outdoor adventure combining music, dance and a good dose of comedy. This family-friendly show is a great introduction to outdoor theatre and Shakespeare.
The company was founded by Tara Dowd and Mark Reed, who met while training at drama school together. They set up Shakespeare’s Wanderers to create bold, inventive and – above all – fun productions of Shakespeare that everyone can enjoy.
‘‘We’re thrilled to be performing Much Ado About Nothing at Guildford Fringe Festival this year. The 2019 programme has an amazingly varied programme, and we’re delighted to see Shakespeare as an integral part of that mix,’’ says Tara.
The company founders believe that outdoor theatre is a unique experience, more akin to a festival than the traditional experience of watching a show in a theatre.
‘‘There’s nothing quite like being in a beautiful outdoor setting, while a group of actors take you on an exciting journey through one of Shakespeare’s plays. You feel vividly part of the action, and there’s music, dance and the audience often get involved too. There’s also the excitement and unpredictability of an outdoor show. You can’t account for something like a fox casually wandering across the stage, and that all adds to the magic of the experience,’’ says Mark.
The company have not only updated the period of the play to 1918, they’ve also moved the setting from Messina to Dover. The play begins as news of peace reaches England with jubilation descending upon the residents of Dover and love blossoming between the returning soldiers and the women who have been working hard on the home front. As a mood of celebration takes hold, Claudio and Hero fall deeply in love, while Beatrice and Benedick’s sparring ignites an unexpected romance in this joyous love story.
To find out more and buy tickets for this Guildford Fringe Festival production CLICK HERE or call 01483 361101.
Much Ado About Nothing
By Guildford Fringe Festival