Michaelmas 2009 saw another spectacular Shakespeare production from King’s School Dramatic Society. Following on from the visually stunning ‘ Dream’ last year, this year’s treat was ‘Much Ado’ set in the Second World War. For the purposes of the production, Dr Craddock re-wrote some of the scenes involving the Night watch and turned them into a group of Dads’ Army volunteers, complete with much slapstick humour and telling one liners! This broad comedy formed a lovely complement to the more subtle comedy between Beatrice and Benedict, brilliantly played by Emma Nelson and Will Geeson. Once again the production looked so good with a set representing Dover Cliffs specially designed by Sixth Former Alex Smith that combined classical and contemporary references, and excellent costumes from Sue Rodford. The darker sides of the play and its exploration of the more cynical side of love were well captured too with Nic Sims playing the fickle Claudio and Sophie Baldwin and Katie Baxter giving an affecting portrait of Hero a character who can sometimes seem vapid. Max Woodall played a very tortured villain and Silas Barke made a commanding prince, but the Dads’ Army crew led by Jonty Binns, Huw Thomas, Max Balbernie, Ciaran Walshe and Neil Spencer stole most of the laughs with their inept but finally successful struggle to expose the villains.
Click here to see more pictures of our fantastic performance