ARTEFACT THEATRE COMPANY, 2019

Written By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Directed by MATTHEW COX
Original Music by ALEC STEEDMAN
Music Direction by ALEC STEEDMAN

With a unique slant, Artefact Theatre Co.’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing translates the traditional romantic comedy text into a love letter to Melbourne, peppered with an ounce of social commentary. Set in high-society Fitzroy, we watch local MP, Leonato (Francis Greenslade), give his only daughter away to a youthful soldier, recently back from war. But a case of mistaken identity throws a spanner in the works leaving fidelity, love and honour hanging in the balance.

“Musical Direction by Alec Steedman, who also contributed original works to the set list, was absolutely top-notch: not something I expected to be saying in a play review.”

— THEATRE PEOPLE

"The deft weaving of music in general actually contributed a rather filmic sense to a number of scenes... "This group were not mere background noise: their folksy, skilful and animated playing was utterly central to the flow and action. I wonder if audiences will really realise just how much skill was going into this aspect of the production."

— THEATRE PEOPLE