In February 2002 John Marwick directed the first Shakespeare production to be held in Muritai School yard. Much Ado About Nothing was presented with a little bit of a ‘tango twist’. The play was part of the Wellington Fringe Festival that year.

The Cast

DON PEDRO Laurie Atkinson
DON JOHN Chris Morey
CLAUDIO Dan Caddy
BENEDICK Ashley Bloomfield
LEONATA Sandra Gillespie
ANTONIO Jerry Duckor
CONRADE John Marwick
BORACHIO Reuben Hardie
FRIAR FRANCIS Trevor Rose
DOGBERRY Trevor Rose
VERGES Jerry Duckor
HERO Holly Robinson
BEATRICE Rowan Macrae
MARGARET Yvonne Bishop
URSULA Anne Manchester

2002 Much Ado About Nothing

24 photos

Publicity 2002

Teasing, Treachery and the Tango

For the first time Eastbourne will host a Fringe Festival play this week when Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe stages Much Ado About Nothing – one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies.

“It’s got love and deception, laughter and drama,” says John Marwick the director. But this production has got a little extra as well. “Tango,” says John “the passionate and sensual dance of Buenos Aires, fits this play beautifully.”

The play has a masked ball in one scene and ends with another dance. So, instead of the usual formal dance steps, the cast have been learning the Tango.

“I learnt the dance only last year myself” says the director, “but I’m really hooked.” He says that, though the play has only had a short summer rehearsal period, cast members have taken to the Tango enthusiastically.

This will be the fifth time that Marwick has directed Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe members in summer Shakespeare. The shows have previously been semi-private productions mounted in Troupe members’ gardens and called Bard in the Yard.

This year will be the Troupe’s first time as part of the Fringe Festival and, with the prospect of bigger crowds, they have moved to a larger venue. But, the production is still outdoors – and still Bard in the Yard since it is in the Muritai schoolyard.

The production will be staged completely ‘in the round’ – audience on all sides of the action to give everyone an excellent view. If the weather is unkind the whole production moves inside to the floor of the school hall.

Many of the cast of 13 have been in previous Bard in the Yard productions or took part in Marwick’s full-scale millennial production of The Winter’s Tale – winner of best play in the 2000 Wellington Theatre Federation Awards. They are joined on this occasion by two musicians who, with violin and guitar, will provide the tango music.

The play starts at 7.30 pm and runs for about two hours (including one interval) from Sunday 17^th to Thursday 21^st February at the Muritai Schoolyard, Muritai Road, just past the village in Eastbourne

Tickets at $12, $10 (senior citizens and students), and $8 (children) include a complimentary glass of wine and are available from Ticketek, Eastbourne Hammer Hardware, and at the door.

If you’re planning to go remember to wrap up well – unfortunately, balmy summer evenings cannot be guaranteed this year !