Between the years of 1598 and 1599, playwright William Shakespeare wrote his 17th play, Much Ado About Nothing. Over 400 years later, in 2026, I had my first introduction to the piece by Strathclyde’s own ReAct theatre group.
Much Ado About Nothing is described as a romantic comedy. Whether it’s funny or not is likely subjective to the viewer. Even as someone who appreciates the arts, the only Shakespearian play I have ever found witty is ‘Gnomeo and Juliet.’ But I digress, this adaptation managed to illicit a chuckle or two out of me.
As soon as the lights dimmed, the audience was immersed in the performance; characters didn’t only rush onto the stage, but also entered down the middle of the audience, jumping straight into action.
I doubt the performance would’ve still been immersive if it weren’t for the fabulous cast. Each individual brought their own unique performance to the stage. Strathclyde Union President Fraser Brown made a strong appearance as Leonato, with a few of his bold line deliveries nearly sending me through the roof with the decibel level they were executed. A compelling performance.
The star of the show for me, though, was Jamie Woollam’s portrayal of Benedick, a key role for the production’s comedic credibility. His lines were delivered with perfect comedic timing, his more serious scenes were earnest, and his acting for me was to the standard of a professional. I’d be surprised if you told me he wasn’t already starring in bigger dramas or pantomimes.
Where things got tricky, however, as someone who has a spot of difficulty remembering names, was knowing who was who. Programmes were left on seats with the names of everyone involved, as well as who plays what character. If you’re not an avid Shakespeare fan, or you don’t know any of the cast, pictures beside the names of the fine actors and actresses involved would’ve been incredibly helpful in order to credit them in this review.
That being said, I tried my best to quickly note stand-out performers with my dried-out pen on the slippery laminate paper. Tanushree Sharma’s role as Hero also struck me, and I found myself rather hooked with her and Claudio’s (Cara Shields) storyline based on performances alone.
Going in, I wasn’t expecting such a professional, high-quality performance from this talented and diverse cast. It would be rude not to include the behind-the-scenes crew, particularly those on set design, who did such a wonderful job painting the beautiful scenery of Messinach.
If you have a spare few hours, want to be more involved in campus life, or if you’re into theatre without the money to buy those expensive tickets, I’d recommend investing yourself into this group’s next performance. I’d like to brag and say I got in for free, but I’d happily have paid the £10 ticket for entry, and I’d love to see these students on a bigger stage for the recognition they deserve. Though remember to bring some spare change for the raffle, and maybe a cushion for those rock-like chairs.
19🏴
Studying JMC & Politics in year 2
Leave a Reply