Shakespeare in the sun 

A Shakespearean comedy about two pairs of lovers is to be performed in Wilton Crescent Garden this summer.

Much Ado About Nothing follows two Sicilian couples: Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a “merry war”. The couple banter constantly, trading insults and telling each other how much they dislike love, marriage and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are a sweet young couple who are rendered almost speechless by their love for each other.

However, evil villain Don John tricks Benedick and Beatrice into confessing their love for each other, while Claudio is gulled into believing that Hero has been unfaithful and rejecting her at the altar.

Paul Gladwell, who has directed all the Shakespeare performances in Wilton Crescent including last year’s The Taming of the Shrew, said Much Ado About Nothing is one of his favourite plays. “It was the first Shakespeare play I ever saw and I really enjoyed it. Then I played Benedick in a performance and I thought, this is a play I’d love to direct.”

Benedick and Beatrice are the central characters in the play, he said. “They keep saying they hate each other, even though they love each other really. They are brilliant comedic characters. A lot of laughs come out of their dialogue and from the scenes where they are hiding and trying to find out what other characters are saying about them. There’s lots of diving under tables and hiding behind bushes, and we’ll even have them hiding in the audience too.”

Much Ado About Nothing takes place in Wilton Crescent Garden on 6 July. The garden opens at 6pm for picnics and the performance starts at 7pm. There is a 15 minute interval. Chairs will be provided, although guests are welcome to bring rugs to sit on the lawn for picnics.

Tickets cost £15, £10 for concessions. To buy tickets in advance, call the Millfield Theatre box office on 020 8807 6680 or visit www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk. Tickets will also be available on the gate.

This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in Belgravia Magazine.