Much Ado about Nothing – Hope Mill Theatre

Shakespeare isn’t for everybody, they say. Well, it was tonight in Ancoats! HER Productions & Girl Gang Manchester & Unseemly Shakespeare have produced yet another (this is their fourth Shakespearean outing) magical piece of theatre which allows the wit of Shakespeare’s writing to speak for itself, with an impressive cast who relish the opportunity to perform it.

A plot to drive a couple apart and a plot to unite another paring both through trickery and male misplaced notions of the opposite sex. A play about desire and love, this production highlights gender politics acutely; it’s far more than a Tudor rom-com. The gender fluid casting is pure Shakespeare and adds a unique joy to the play. This a comedic play and each line was delivered with a sharpness that made the Elizabethan English sound contemporary and most importantly, accessible. The cast was faultless.

Kudos to Kayleigh Hawkins for utilising and creatively playing on the duplicity of the play’s language in their direction. The cast brought a heightened intensity and sense of modernity to the play which made it far more accessible than many comparable productions. A cherub signalled the Italian setting of the play (Messina). The clever chorography allowed a versatility that was easy for the audience to engage with, especially in the masque scene and meant the language never became stilted. 

I never associated 90s music with Shakespeare but Eliyana Evans creates a soundscape which embraced the rhythm of the play’s comedy and the audience loved it! I can’t emphasise enough how much the music contributed to the audience’s engagement. The music kept a heady pace meaning the production never felt lacklustre. Costumes, so often a key feature of Elizabethan theatre, matched the tone.

The tragic elements are teased out sharply as we witness Hero’s slander. Mia Gibson brought out the humour and personality in Hero, a female character that can often be played quite blandly.  How easy is it to dismiss a woman, to refute her ‘grace’ without her having done a thing. Things really don’t change!

Racheal Gill-Davis was simply outstanding as in the role of Benedict and her merry war with Beatrice was delightful to see played out. She brought a likable charisma which was warm and engaging. Equally, Beatrice (Lucy Keirl) was played with a hearty feistiness which the character much deserved. Louise McNulty (Leonato) owned the stage which aplomb and set the bar high for the standard of performance which was matched by the rest of the wonderful cast.

In essence, Shakespeare with a northern flourish which I could not fail to embrace! Intelligent, full of excitement and joy, this is a must-see production!

Playing until 27^th August, before moving on to the Shakespeare North Playhouse https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/much-ado-about-nothing

Reviewer: Catherine Kiernan

Reviewed: 18th August 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★