Maldon Drama Group is preparing to bring its long-awaited production of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' to the stage – with a special performance under the stars.

This Thursday (June 22) the Group will perform the first of two nights at Maldon Town Hall. On July 1, it will bring an outdoor performance to the Museum of Power for one night only.

The historic venue is said to have influenced Maldon Drama Group's choice of play. Director Helen Rasmussen decided the Shakespearean comedy, originally planned for April 2020, was well suited to its atmosphere.

Helen, a Maldon Drama Group member since 1980, told Nub News: "It's a new and different venue - and we're very much looking forward to accepting the challenge of working outdoors for the first time.

"The location is lovely and really suits the action of the play."

Helen, along with Group Chairman Ghislaine Davis, "technical man" Simon Cooke and other committee members, visited the Museum several times in preparation for the production. They met with Museum Manager Debbie Thomas, took measurements and worked out how to provide staging, lighting, and sound. While not a simple task for a small local group, members are confident they can make it all work and put on a good show.

"Set and costume changes present another challenge, so we are stripping things back and keeping it simple," says award-winning cast member Carey Brown.

"We have quite a large cast for this one and we are confident the skills of our members will bring the play to life."

Written in the late 1500s, 'Much Ado About Nothing' premiered in 1600 and was published in the First Folio in 1623. Originally, it was set in Messina, with Don Pedro and his soldiers coming home from an unnamed campaign.

However, Maldon Drama Group opted for a VE Day setting to mark the 75th anniversary in 2020, with the backdrop of a street party celebrating the end of the Second World War. By March 2020, the pandemic meant it had to be scrapped.

With opening night finally within reach, a mere three years late, Maldon Drama Group is looking forward to another successful production.

To purchase tickets, visit the Maldon Drama Group website or call 07928 403 991.

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