A Shakespeare comedy with dark undertones

Oxford Theatre Guild joins in the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival by staging one of the bard’s best loved comedies in the classical setting of Trinity College gardens. The performance takes place Tuesday July 10 to Saturday July 21.

With over 50 years’ experience of outdoor summer Shakespeare the Guild is looking forward to entertaining both regular audiences and city visitors alike.

In Much Ado About Nothing a true to form Shakespeare weaves more than a tale of boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. Along the way, the girl is borrowed by a Lord, betrayed by his brother, slandered by a villain, dumped by her betrothed and saved by the priest. Meanwhile, Beatrice and Benedick are busily falling in hate with one another – until a little help (and a lot of mischief) from their friends saves the day. The witty banter between this pair of very un-star crossed lovers is one of the highlights of this play.

Trinity College gardens are a beautiful oasis in the middle of the bustling city centre, providing the perfect place to unwind after a busy day sightseeing or in the office. Trinity College itself was founded in 1555, in the century of Shakespeare’s birth, and 45 years before the first performance of Much Ado About Nothing, so its gardens are a very fitting venue for this production.

This is an outdoor performance. In the event of extreme weather conditions there is an indoor alternative.

Praise for previous productions by the Guild

“the Guild should be proud of this production … Above all, this is an excellent piece of storytelling”

Giles Woodforde, Oxford Times, on Oxford Theatre Guild’s Antony and Cleopatra.

“what really stands out is the acting …. a restrained, sensitive and thought-provoking evening.” Oxford Times December 2011 on OTG’s Breaking the Code, The Theatre at the Old Fire Station.

Photography; Photo credits Felicity Peacock

Images will be supplied for print and electronic publishing prior to opening night.

Photos in performance will also be available for review pieces from Tuesday 10 July

Coming next from Oxford Theatre Guild

The Government Inspector by Gogol, The North Wall Arts Centre, 24-27 October

Henry VI, adapted from Shakespeare’s trilogy, The Theatre at the Old Fire Station, 8-15 December