This year’s Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank is an abridged and adapted version of Much Ado About Nothing, specially created for schools’ audiences, many of whom this will be their first experience of seeing Shakespeare live. This 90 minute adaptation by Michael Oakley is vibrant, loud and engaging. The opening scene, as Don Pedro (Tyler Fayose) is carried onto stage through the massed groundlings, accompanied by triumphant drums sets the tone. The spark and turbulence between Beatrice (Fiona Hampton) and Benedick (Ben Mansfield) kept the audience enthralled throughout – these two have the best lines, get the most laughs and connected with the mainly young audience.
For first-timers or Shakespeare stalwarts, the Playing Shakespeare productions offer a new perspective and evoke what it must have been like to have seen the plays some 400 years ago. With accompanying workshops and teacher CPD available, ensure your school gets to see next year’s production!
Review by Leo Hopley, Yr 11, NKS