Much Ado about Nothing

As part of the World Shakespeare Festival 2012, the Royal Shakespeare Company have staged an all-Asian production at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford on Avon. "Early modern Messina is transposed to Contemporary Delhi in a way that illuminates and transforms the idioms of both worlds", says the programme.

This is "Much Ado about Nothing", my favourite comedy, starring Meera Syal (a very well known and well loved British/Asian actress often seen in light-hearted modern comedy on tv)

It is bright, vibrant and colourful. The set is magnificent and the costumes sparkle. The humour is up to date and relaxed.

But most strikingly, the attitudes towards women and marriage as shown in the play fit brilliantly into the new setting. Hero is shamed (vindictively although she is totally innocent) and this is the world of modern honour-killings !

A wonderful afternoon out (we had lunch in Carluccio's) and Stratford-on-Avon was remarkably quiet, without the usual droves of Japanese and other tourists.

If you're interested in seeing the production, it is to transfer to London at the Noel Coward Theatre in September.

And thank you everyone for helping my dragonfly to the Spotlight, yesterday.
xx