Much Ado About Nothing at the Duke of York’s Theatre

Nestled in the beating heart of London, the small and intimate Duke of York’s Theatre is now housing the latest adaptation of the famous Shakespearean comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Starring 16 young performers from the National Youth Theatre, and directed by Josie Daxter, also an NYT alumna, the play is a product of the fervid imagination of poet and playwright Debris Stevenson. It’s a courageous and highly entertaining effort to marry Shakespeare, in all his holy immortality, with the kind of reality TV that is consumed quickly, ravenously, and is then often forgotten about.

The premise is rather exhilarating: every character is a contestant on a TV reality show, called Nothing Island, set in villa Messina. The producers of the show, along with the two runners, are there to ensure a smooth running of the new season, and to concoct the right amount of juicy tension to keep the audience enthralled and on the edge of their seats. The producers’ dreams come true when contestants Claudio and Hero fall in love. Another contestant, however, is plotting against their union. And so nasty rumours are being spread around, gossip whispered from ear to ear, deaths are faked, drama ensues. A battle of the sexes is crafted carefully, with humour and heart, offering a modern and timely commentary on love, desire and deception.

A clever touch is the TV screens above the stage, allowing the audience to read all the amusing social media responses to the tension and drama happening in the villa. It’s both surprising and fascinating how well the world of Shakespeare lends itself to being transformed into a reality TV show: monologues are delivered in the form of confessionals, and the Friar is a glamorous TV presenter, who navigates through it all offering advice and bizarre solutions. If the original play is all about deception, this adaptation takes it one step further: it shows the artifice, the magus behind the wall, the puppeteer who pulls the strings. 

The fervour and passion of the young cast is deeply felt, reaching the spectators whose laughter echoes within the small theatre. Isolde Fenton’s brilliant performance as the witty Beatrice deserves a special mention – the chemistry between her character and Benedick (Daniel Cawley) is palpable. However, there are also moments when the show loses some momentum (perhaps also due to the lack of an interval). The news of Hero’s (fake) death, for instance, is not followed by the intense portrayal of sorrow, resentment and then guilt, that one might expect from her lover, Claudio.   

Overall, this is a bold and entertaining adaptation, with some great performances from a talented and energetic cast. Their heart-warming passion for the craft alone is a good reason to enter the world of Nothing Island.

Benedetta Mancusi
Images: Helen Murray

Much Ado About Nothing is at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 7^th February until 10^th February 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.