Much Ado About Nothing

Miss Stead, Drama Teacher
December 13, 2017

‘I wonder that you will still be talking…Nobody marks you.’

Much Ado About Nothing, Thursday 16th November, 7.00pm, The Palace Theatre

‘This is the best interpretation of Much Ado I have seen this year at the festival’. Festival Coordinator, SSF, 2017

It is only a year on since Cornelius Vermuyden students remastered and retold the mystical tale of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to an eager audience at The Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea. Yet, it seems like only yesterday that the cast brought this tale to life as an epic array of abstract dance, physical theatre and stylised ensemble work. Aspirations and enthusiasm were certainly high when selecting our play for 2017. Shakespeare Schools Foundation has an admirable mission statement, stating that ‘with us, people achieve the impossible’. Student ‘confidence flourishes as people exceed their own expectations’. Both the cast and the directors, Mr Wilson and Mrs Stead, knew that choosing the right text was essential; we wanted our students rise to this challenge. A decision was made, a comedy was chosen, and in this, a challenge was most definitely accepted.

Enter the characters of Much Ado About Nothing, a fast-paced comedy taking its audience on a rollercoaster of love-triangles, trickery, family feuds and, of course, the hilarious rivalry between those who once loved, and now loathe. Set in the heart of beautiful Messina, the respected Leonato welcomes a group of brave soldiers back from war with great hospitality and joy, only to see the celebrations of their return meddled with by the evil Don John and his accomplices, Borachio and Conrade. Spurred on by a long-festered sibling rivalry between Don John and his ever-favoured brother, Don Pedro, a wedding is ruined, a friendship is threatened and the reputation of Leonato and that of his fair daughter Hero are called into disrepute.

Certainly the biggest challenge for any Shakespeare Schools Festival cast is to make Shakespeare relevant, accessible and enjoyable for all audiences who encounter it. So why not change the setting of this traditional Shakespearian comedy to a 1980’s holiday camp? The soldiers were transformed into ramblers, donning huge backpacks, duffel coats, and great stories of their travels. Don Pedro, most popular and loved by the characters, became branch manager of the holiday resort, bustling around and checking everyone was enjoying their stay. Perhaps most hilarious of all, was the transformation of the feisty Beatrice, who became a ferocious and competitive tennis champion ready to compete with her foe, Benedick at any time and any place. As Benedick tells the audience of his travels, Beatrice quickly challenges him; ‘I wonder that you will still be talking Signor Benedick. Nobody marks you’. The audience certainly did ‘mark’ the words of the performers, as they watched intently, laughed along, and engaged with the cast’s excellent performances.

The cast of Shakespeare Schools Festival 2017 were an absolute credit to the Performing Arts department, and to the wider school community. Adam Nash-De-Villiers stole the show in his portrayal of Benedick. The character’s sharp wit was communicated through Adam’s hilarious facial expressions to the audience, and his excellently-timed, dramatic insults to his foe, Beatrice. The audience were utterly immersed as Claudio, played by Mason Roddy, swooned awkwardly over the innocent and naïve Hero. Sunny Wheatley and Mason’s use of dramatic pause really communicated the embarrassment and awkwardness of first love, and often engaged the audience in fits of laughter. Multi-rolling was at its best as Bailey Ayres amazingly navigated playing an old, dishevelled Friar and an untrustworthy police officer, charging across the stage with his commanding officer, played by Emma Keys, on his back. Majiuel Hoque and Elle Munday were certainly the talk of the local disco in their ambitious dance-off at the Masque Ball, whilst Lottie Harris and Casey Gowland chased rouge apples across the stage during the Orchard scene, leaving the audience in fits of laughter as they returned the apple to the actresses! The ensemble was focused throughout the performance, supporting the main cast in a disciplined and professional fashion.

If Shakespeare Schools Festival were to be summed up in one word, it would be ‘transformative’. The journey taken by the performers is often awe-inspiring for the directors. The cast not only master the challenging language; they understand the meaning of the dialogue and bring this to life in a way that often leaves the audience in admiration. Perhaps the most rewarding moments from Shakespeare Schools Festival are those spent in the rehearsal studio, as the cast support one another, and invest in friendships outside of their own year group. The support and camaraderie witnessed each year is inspiring and is a key factor in the success of the performance.

Lottie Harris in Year 9 said, ‘I can’t believe I’ve never done this before. I am definitely doing it again next year!’.





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