‘Mel Giedroyc’s Beatrice... has warmth, charisma and a comedian’s sense of timing’ The Sunday Times
‘It is a performance that confirms Hopkins as one of our best Shakespearean actors’ Michael Billington, Guardian
‘Everybody loves Mel... but who knew she was such a brilliant actress’ London Theatre 1
‘A thrilling and magical evening of theatre’ Essential Surrey
‘Mel Giedroyc serves up a fine Beatrice in this agreeably loopy production’ Time Out
‘Brilliant moments of physical comedy’ Love London Love Culture
‘Fresh, fiery and full of fun - grab a ticket while you can’ Fairy Powered Productions
To mark the Rose's 10th anniversary, we are thrilled to present a major revival of Shakespeare's masterpiece, Much Ado About Nothing, starring celebrated actress and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc alongside John Hopkins (Midsomer Murders, Poldark) as feuding lovers Beatrice and Benedick.
Don Pedro is victorious. The turf war in the city is won and the Mafia overlord brings his entourage to Messina, a luxury spa
hotel deep in the Sicilian hills, to hide out, recover and party. While Leonato, the hotel owner, fawns over his clan boss, his daughter, Hero, wins the heart of the Don’s young protégé. Meanwhile, Beatrice, the no-nonsense, customer-experience manager, has unfinished business to see to with Benedick, Pedro’s commitment-phobic consigliere. But when Hero is disgraced, the party is over, love turns to hatred and new battle lines are drawn.
Beneath its witty surface, Much Ado About Nothing is a powerful exploration of the struggle for love, identity and self-knowledge in a male-dominated world – as relevant today as ever. Our production will use Shakespeare’s language in a sharp contemporary setting that not only offers glorious opportunities for physical comedy amid the furnishings of a spa hotel but also provides a social context that enhances the darker themes in this timeless comic gem.
Starring Mel Giedroyc as Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing is a Rose co-production with Granville & Parham Productions and Antic Face. A household name for her television presenting and comedy work, Mel’s theatre credits include Luce (Southwark Playhouse), Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour (UK Tour), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Playhouse Theatre), Eurobeat (Novello) and New Boy (Trafalgar Studios).