Reviews

• OLIVER

  Mar 27, 2017

  My French wife, our two bilingual sons (10 and 16) and I thought your production was the best ever. We had a fantastic time. My 10y old had read the children's "translation" (purchased the night before from the Globe bookshop) and my 16y old recently scored A* in his GCSE where MAAN was one of the set books. About 2y ago, we also saw the West End Bollywood version and, the following night, a local production in Folkestone on the way home. So we have seen all sorts of versions also including Kenneth Branagh's film. So our compliments are amateur but informed !

• Lynn

  Mar 25, 2017

  Wonderful set, talented cast-very beautiful theatre!

• Julie Bulmer

  Mar 19, 2017

  This production was a joy to behold.Thw setting and set were both wonderful and the whole cast stunning. I qas sat in the "gods" and heard every word.

• Franny

  Mar 15, 2017

  Firstly we got a seating upgrade!! Then we were treated to such a fantastic performance of MAAN that we would love to have a chance to see it again with our other sisters. Unfortunately the run is almost over. Such great casting and really enjoyed the post war back drop. Wonderful evening

• Dr Ian McMillan Wesson

  Mar 14, 2017

  Beautifully produced. V. funny. Seating excellent.

• Peter M

  Mar 13, 2017

  Tremendous fun - well worth the time and energy ( and cost) to see

• Dominika

  Mar 11, 2017

  Simply put - it's a great production of a much loved Shakespearean play. Set in Edwardian times at the close of the First World War in winter, the set pieces were well designed with the great estate resembling one from Shakespeare's home county. The cast were engaging, very funny and Benedict was superbly played by Edward Bennett. Took my mum for her birthday and she loved it from start to finish! Well done the RSC!

• Margaret

  Mar 11, 2017

  This production feels very fresh. The First World War setting was perfectly executed through the costumes and music and seemed to fit well with the story. Wedding church scene was particularly stunning. I had my usual doubts about the mechanicals and think that Dogberry rather overplayed his part but this was a minor irritation in an otherwise highly entertaining evening.

• DD

  Mar 9, 2017

  First time attending the royal theatre in Shakespeare can be an acquired taste at time but much ado about nothing was a gentle and fun way to embrace the wonder of the bard.the acting was superb especially Dull who was anything but dull -comic genius! and Sebastian another engaging character.The set and outfits and musical accompaniment were throughly enjoyable

• Laura

  Mar 6, 2017

  Absolutely fantastic! I never realised Shakespeare could be so funny. Amazing cast.

• Paula

  Mar 5, 2017

  A great production - thoroughly enjoyed it

• Biffyliz

  Mar 5, 2017

  Very enjoyable performance. Cast were amazing. Easy play to understand. Humourous and fun had us roaring at times and chuckling in others. Theatre Royal is beautiful. The scenery was amazing and loved the ingenious way sets changed. You will have see it to find out.

• D Evans

  Mar 5, 2017

  My husband and I thought this was the best piece of theatre we've seen in a while. It's a wonderful ensemble performance : light, witty, well paced and very, very funny. The set and costumes are delightful . I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere created by the music and the singing. All in all, it is an absolute joy.

• Nicholas

  Mar 5, 2017

  A wonderfully inventive treatment of Shakespeare's play in which sixteenth-century language and a twentieth-century setting worked seamlessly together to reveal both the comedy and pathos of the dramatist's inexhaustible imagination. Fine performances, generally excellent casting, and superb music.

• Rosemary

  Mar 5, 2017

  Great actors, funny!! Entertaining play! I'm a Shakespeare fan.

• Nina Rattan

  Mar 5, 2017

  I saw the play on a Saturday evening and I totally recommend it as it got everything: a good story (with funny and tragic parts), excellent actors (especially Lisa Dillon - Beatrice and Edward Bennett - Benedick), a beautiful set design and good music. It was a wonderful experience).

• Mowenna Brewer

  Mar 3, 2017

  I saw these in the correct order, i.e. LLLost, then Much Ado, was bowled over by each, as was the friend I brought to the latter - and so much so I brought another friend to Much Ado last night. I cannot understand why the weekend broadsheet theatre sections have not flagged these up regularly as totally unmissable, They beat anything currently from the National Theatre.

• Anne

  Mar 2, 2017

  Brilliant stage craft , brilliant set music and , well everything. Moving as well as funny .

• Capnblatch

  Feb 26, 2017

  A splendid performance, very much enjoyed. I took my 10-year old daughter, and it was a delight to watch her face throughout the play... she was entranced, and laughed constantly. I am always impressed when a performance can raise laughter from 400-year old jokes; and with a very finely judged admixture of modern slap-stick and excellent delivery of the original words, this was achieved seamlessly. Perhaps overall my best impression was the cast, who simply seemed to be enjoying the performance as much as the audience.

• Geoffrey North

  Feb 23, 2017

  Long wth Loves Labours Lost, the two best RSC productions we have seen for some years. Excellent acting, particularly from the men where Edward Bennett was outstanding . It is still a pity the women's diction was nowhere near as good . Lusa Dillon was generally disappointing though she improved during the second half. The setting was brilliant and we hope we will get something as imaginative from the producer with his Twelfth Night. We look forward to it

• John of Kent

  Feb 23, 2017

  A superb production, great interpretation by a talented well directed cast.

• Maria

  Feb 21, 2017

  I have really enjoyed last night at the theatre. Very relaxing and comic. I would strongly recommend to everybody interested in theatres.

• L S Haynes

  Feb 20, 2017

  The setting at an 'English' country house during the First World War worker very well with no loss of the Shakespearian poetry.

• Mr and Mrs Williams

  Feb 20, 2017

  We so enjoyed Loves Labours Lost that we booked to see Much Ado About Nothing the following week. Although it was also an excellent performance we didn't enjoy it as much. This is possibly due to the nature of the play having more dialogue and fewer interludes of singing and dancing to lighten the mood. The characters were superbly cast and we commend them all.

• aandu

  Feb 19, 2017

  Great sets and music. Clever and accessible production. No sexual chemistry between Benedict and Beatrice though - high camp element of production overstated.

• Patricia

  Feb 19, 2017

  Excellent. Amusing, slick. Thoroughly enjoyable

• Di from north London

  Feb 17, 2017

  Amazing production. Very funny indeed.

• DBLawson

  Feb 16, 2017

  Son's first RSC production, as he's doing Much Ado for higher English. He really enjoyed it and was animated throughout. A good introduction to Shakespeare.

• Patricia

  Feb 3, 2017

  Thank you text from Daughter-in -law. ''The show lived up to the reviews - and more. the cast were amazing and the play was brilliantly done. The whole theatre stood up at the end. Michael (our grandson) loved it''.

• Louise

  Feb 2, 2017

  I really enjoyed the production; great acting, interpretation and scenery etc. Personally wasn't so keen on the slap-stick 'comedy' part but rest of he audience were loving it so I think it's just down to personal taste.

• Sarah

  Jan 29, 2017

  It was my first play and I am so glad to have chosen Much Ado. I studied it at GCSE and always been fond of it since then, but I regret not seeing on stage before now. The way in which the actors moved or a line that was spoken by the faultless cast was truly unique and brought a whole new dimension to my understanding of the play! The cast truly brought the play to life in a whole new way and my friend (who had never seen or read the play previously) remarked that she was originally worried that as it was Shakespeare, it might be difficult to understand. She loved it! Thank you for a brilliant night of comedy. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone I meet!

• Maggie

  Jan 29, 2017

  Wasn't expecting to have such fun watching Shakespeare ! Loved the 20s costumes. Great to see all the facial expressions,which enhanced the comedy - very clear, even seen from the Royal Circle. A wonderful evening.

• Amina

  Jan 25, 2017

  Loved every bit, the decor, the costumes, and of course actors were marvellous! Banedick caused roaring laughter

• Natalie

  Jan 17, 2017

  Really good! Extremely funny and very well put together. A fantastic setting of the timeless classic.

• Chris

  Jan 14, 2017

  Probably one of the best things I have seen at the theatre. The performances across the piece were entirely believable and the characters portrayed exactly as I imagined they should be. The relationship between Benedict and Beatrice was perfect. Add to that a setting that let looked beautiful and worked beautifully and you can see why I loved it.

• D Kemp

  Dec 29, 2016

  We (4, including teenagers) all enjoyed the evening immensely and found it gripping and amusing, especially the second half. The setting/change of era was curious but it worked well.

• Toronto

  Dec 29, 2016

  Everything about this production is carefully thought through and brilliantly realised - from the design (stunning and lavish) to the costumes, the music, the interpretation of the text and the casting. Above all, the surprising decision to set the play in the early 20th Century works brilliantly and gives a chance for some strange connections, as well as joyous singing and dancing - making this a show rather than a play. If you find Shakespeare hard work, this is quite the opposite - easy to follow and fun, yet still true to the original play.

• Tim Corner

  Dec 28, 2016

  Excellent production. Beatrice & Benedict were wonderful. Our only reservation was Dogberry. There was much to enjoy in him, but we found his trembling and quasi fits jarring. We gathered afterwards that they were there to suggest shell shock from the trenches. However, it looked like epilepsy and/or Parkinson's, and we felt uncomfortable to be laughing.

• Jobow

  Dec 16, 2016

  Last night was a truly wonderful evening spent watching Much Ado About Nothing. The production was amazing with lots of laughter and mirth. A great start to Christmas and well worth a trip!!!

• Yuko

  Dec 15, 2016

  A great play. The production made it a particularly enjoyable comedy with gestures and interjections as well as very tactful pauses in speeches. The cast are all so well-versed and right on cue. Brilliant.

• Roger

  Dec 15, 2016

  This was my first Shakespeare play and to be honest I was a bit dubious about going. The scene setting, stage arrangements and brilliant actors really captured the moment in every scene. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it has certainly ignited an interest I should have studied years ago. Bravo.

• Banu

  Dec 13, 2016

  A must see! I knew the play and saw a different adaptation. This one was a beautiful staging and actors were amazing. I laughed so much and also got touched by the drama. A perfect play, with some Christmas zest.

• Emma

  Dec 13, 2016

  Hilarious, well acted and perfectly staged. Great evening.

• Bumble

  Dec 10, 2016

  An evening of great fun I didn't understand all the dialogue but you get the drift as it rolls along

• André

  Feb 3, 2017

  wonderful

• Daniel

  Dec 20, 2016

  It was very funny and the the actors were incredibly fantastic