Luke Thornborough   Benedick   Jess Bates   Beatrice   Alex MacDonald   Claudio   Natalie Braid   Hero   Lucy Smith   Don John   Sam Blood   Conrade   Craig Serventy   Don Pedro   Chris Bryan   Dogberry   Jemery Brett   Verges   Kieran Maskell   Leonato   Andrew Parker   Antonio   Lisa Fothergill   Margaret   Jessica Stansfield   Ursula   Alex Kirch   Borachio   Alexandra Clare   Balthazar   Jason Conran   Friar Francis   Bridget Dolan   Sexton   Mo Kheir   Watch 1   Shaan Kesha   Watch 2   Joanna Olsen   Watch 3           Eli Moore   piano   Tristan Deck   drums   Scott Kendall   bass   Liz Stokes   trumpet   Ben Sinclair   clarinet           Sam Pascoe   Director   Oliver Rosser   Producer

Synopsis & Director's Note As the nuptial day of the two young lovers, Claudio and Hero, draws closer, a scheming Prince John the Bastard plots to overthrow their happiness.  Meanwhile Beatrice and Benedick, two characters who seem to outwardly abhor each other, and thus would make the perfect couple, are engaged in a witty sparring match that threatens to keep them from the realisation of their love. Much Ado about Nothing is on one of the most light-hearted and relatable of Shakespeare's plays, and it was for those reasons that I chose to direct it for AUSA's Outdoor Summer Shakespeare 2012.  Everybody knows a 'Beatrice', who is strong willed to the point of stubbornness, and a 'Benedick', who swears that he will never commit to one woman until she maintains the graces of every woman in the world; if you are unlucky then perhaps you even know a 'Don John', "whose very spirit toils in the frame of villainies". So, please, allow us to plunge you into the nineteen forties, where the Second World War has just ended, spirits are high and soldiers are returning to Great Britian triuphant.  Join us for some Shakspare under the stars...