The Bard’s play gets a Second World War spin

Much Ado About Nothing is this year’s opening play of the Titchfield Festival Theatre Bard at the Barn summer season, on now until June 8.

To give it a twist, this TFT version has been given a Second World War theme.

It's rest and recuperation time for general Peters and his entourage including the Soviet commissar Ivan Ilyich after a hard fought war. Where best to spend it than at the Hotel Messina in Sicily, owned by his good friend Signior Leonato? Italian Partisan Count Claudio is in love with Leonato's daughter Hero. But can Claudio and general Peters get their British liaison officer captain Benedick to fall in love with Leonato's sharp-witted niece, Beatrice? It’s a tough task indeed, considering their ‘history’, but all is not well as the meddling commissar Ivan plots to ruin the love matches.

Kevin Fraser, TFT’s chairman and artistic director is directing: ‘Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays and this year is on the school curriculum. We decided to give it a theme based around the Second World War to fit in with current news events. I love the play too; I have directed it several times previously as well as having appeared in productions in both this country and Spain. It’s such a great story, is easy to follow and it has a joyous ending. We’re also fortunate to have such a superb cast!

‘The Bard at the Barn summer festival is one of the highlights of the TFT year. So why not join us, have a picnic in the grounds of the beautiful Great Barn, grab a glass of wine and be entertained in the fabulous historic setting linked with the Bard himself?’

For tickets go to titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com.