Touring London Parks June – August 2024.
Casting is announced for East London Shakespeare Festival’s sparkling family-friendly production of the Bard’s romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing, touring parks and open-air spaces across east London from 7 Juneto 3 August.
Kieran Garland (The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for the National Theatre) and Ursula Early (Co-Artistic Director of East London Shakespeare Festival) star as Benedick and Beatrice.
They are joined by Lauren Hendricks as Don Pedro and Margaret; Alistair Brown as Don John and The Friar; Londiwe Mthembu as Hero and Verges; Isambard Rawbone as Claudio and Dogberry; Paul Willcocks as Leonato and Borachio and Natasha Mula as Conrade, Messenger and Ursula.
Sun-soaked mischief and romance under the Mediterranean stars; Much Ado About Nothing is set against the luxurious backdrop of a modern-day Messina. This opulent tale is brimming with wit, trickery and mischief, with heart coming out on top.
East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) was founded by Waltham Forest-based actors, directors and producers Rosie Ward and Ursula Early in 2020. The company has been nominated for two Off West End Awards: Best Company for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2021) and Best Ensemble for Romeo and Juliet (2023).
This summer, Much Ado About Nothing brings ELSF’s trademark contemporary twists and turns, high-energy party numbers and audience participation to more venues than ever before. The production opens on 7 June at Higham Hill Hub and tours until 3 August, with a press performance on Thursday 20 June at Hoxton Community Gardens.
The production is family-friendly, and people of all ages are welcome and encouraged. Much Ado About Nothing is directed by Rosie Ward and produced by Ursula Early and Rosie Ward. The show has musical direction and composition by Patrick Rufey, choreography and movement direction by Jennie Dunne, set design and build by Andrew Hollingworth with scenic artist George Alexander.
An extensive community engagement programme offering a range of activities for local residents will run alongside the tour, with lots of opportunities to get involved.
Press performance: Thursday 20 June at Hoxton Community Gardens; media are also welcome any time during the run from 15 June.
Press Contact: Caroline Ansdell at CAPR on caroline@capr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Full tour dates for Much Ado About Nothing are below.
Higham Hill Hub, 7 – 9 June
Leyton Jubilee Park, 15 – 16 June
Hoxton Community Gardens, 20 –21 June
Applecart Arts, 22 – 23 June
Fellowship Square, 27 Jul – 30 June
Highams Park, 5 – 7 July
Lauderdale House, 10 – 11 July
Forest Gate Community Gardens, 12 July
Crystal Palace Park, 13 – 14 July
Clissold Park, 18 – 21 July
Valentines Park, 25 – 26 July
Springfield Park, 27 – 28 July
Langthorne Amphitheatre, 31 July
Wanstead Park, 3 August
For tickets and more information: www.elsf.uk
Outdoorshakespeare | East London Shakespeare Festival | England
East London Shakespeare Festival brings joyful, contemporary and professional OutdoorShakespeare productions to community spaces in East London. Find out What’s On, How to Get Involved and more about what we do.
Approx. running time: 2hrs 15mins (including interval)
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Twitter: @EastLondonShak1
Cast biographies:
Kieran Garland – Benedick and Second Watchman
Kieran’s theatre work includes The Ocean At The End of the Lane for the National Theatre, West End; The End Of The Line, A Bunch Of Amateurs, & The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband for Theatre On The Coast, Suffolk; The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time for the National Theatre, West End, and UK & International tours; Dahling, You Were Marvellous for Steven Berkoff, and Macbeth for RIFT Theatre, London. His TV work includes Silent Witness, BBC, and the upcoming A Thousand Blows, Disney+.
Ursula Early – Beatrice & Seacol
Ursula is the co-artistic director of ELSF and has been a professional actress for 20 years. She trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her TV credits include: EastEnders; Doctors; The Bill; Life Begins; The Life Class. Stage credits include: Twelfth Night & Romeo & Juliet (Kenneth More Theatre), Please Right Back (1927), A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Twelfth Night (ELSF), The Endings (Soho Theatre & Nottingham Playhouse), Powerhouse, Last Manor Standing (Pleasance Theatre, London & Edinburgh), Wives As They Were Maids As They Are & Animal Magnetism (UK tour including: Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Haymarket), Guests (Hall For Cornwall), Master Of Mayhem (Eastern Angles), Just For Fun (New End Theatre), Diamond (Kings Head), Blame (Sphinx Theatre Company – Tour), The Glimmer (Bristol Old Vic Studio).
Lauren Hendricks – Don Pedro & Margaret
Lauren trained at The Urdang Academy. Credits include: Sleeping Beauty and Jack & The Beanstalk at the Queens Theatre in Barnstaple; Housewives on Holiday UK Tour; The Wizard of Oz UK tour, Twisted Tiaras, West End Gospel choir, An Inspector Calls at the New Wimbledon Theatre. She has appeared in television commercials and is one half of Carey-Hills & Hendricks, writers of Tinker Bell the Musical and Nursery Crimes. Since Lockdown they have garnered hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok – and even though she feels far too old to be TikTok famous she is enjoying it all nevertheless. @careyhillsandhendricks
Alistair Brown – Don John & The Friar
Alistair graduated with a drama degree from Aberystwyth University. He has appeared on stage in plays including Twelfth Night,Love and Understanding, The Wind in the Willows and Straight to the Heart. As company manager for Quantum Theatre, he directed and supported their touring productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest and The Snow Queen. He has manged theatres including the Omnibus in Clapham and has toured with The Down for the Count Orchestra as front of house/ tour manager. Alistair also works in television production as a researcher and assistant producer, with credits including Tipping Point, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Wheel and TNT Sport.
Londiwe Mthembu – Hero & Verges
Londiwe is an actress from South Wales and a RWCMD graduate. Her credits include Galwad (Sky Arts, S4C), Truth or Dare (Theatr Clwyd) and most recently Beauty and the Beast (Riverfront Theatre).
Isambard Rawbone – Claudio & Dogberry
Isambard is a graduate of the University of Kent, with additional training at Identity School of Acting and Raw Academy. Theatre work includes: Romeo and Juliet (East London Shakespeare Festival), A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Iris Theatre), If This Is Normal (Chatback Theatre/ Edinburgh Fringe, Vault Festival, UK tour, Hamlet and Sense and Sensibility (Aquila Theatre/ US Tour), A Murder Most Foley (Fools Rush in Theatre/ Pleasance Theatre), Newsrevue (Canal Cafe Theatre), and Method In Madness (Entita Theatre/ Edinburgh Fringe/ UK Tour).
Paul Willcocks – Leonato & Borachio
Paul studied Drama at Birmingham University and graduated in acting at The Academy Drama School. He also trained with Zippo’s Circus. Paul’s stage credits include Animal Farm (European Tour) Santa’s Sparkly Surprise (Victoria Theatre / Core at Corby Cube) The Lavender Hill Mob (UK Tour) Coram Boy (Minack Theatre) Emmeline (Cockpit Theatre), Secret Thoughts (Southwark Playhouse), Jubilee Voices (Arcola Outside), Kindertransport (Theatre Technis), Bronte (Upstairs at the Gatehouse) The Human Comedy (Young Vic Theatre). Paul’s Shakespeare-related credits include Twelfth Night (Young Vic Theatre), The Revenger’s Tragedy (Riverside Studios) Epicoene (Tristan Bates Theatre) Julius Caesar (Off The Shelf), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Courtyard Theatre), The Tempest (King’s Head Theatre). Paul’s screen work includes First Light (Academy Films) The Toy Hospital (Channel 5) and Funny Bones (Hollywood Pictures). Paul plays a variety of instruments and is a singer/songwriter.
Natasha Mula (2024’s Apprentice Actor) – Conrade, Messenger & Ursula
Natasha is a British-Sicilian actor and theatre maker, with training from Arts Ed and Rose Buford’s European Theatre Arts. Recent credits include: The Pappy Show’s 10th Birthday Pit Party at the Barbican, A Most Pressing Issue at New Wimbledon Theatre Studio.
Creative Team biographies:
Rosie Ward: Much Ado Director & Producer; Co-Artistic Director of ELSF:
Rosie Ward directed ELSF’s Romeo & Juliet which received an Off-West End nomination for Best Company Ensemble, and produced Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and co-wrote and directed ELSF’s launch show Two Metres to Shakespeare. Rosie is the Artistic Director and Producer of UpFront Theatre Company, an educational company offering PSHE workshops for KS2 – 5. Projects include: Before Anyone Else (UK Tour), In Harm’s Way (UK Tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Charity Performance), BuckleUp (EdFringe16) and Bump! (EdFringe16). She is the Principal at Act Out Performing Arts, which has two successful schools for 4-16 year-olds in Muswell Hill and Walthamstow. She is a professional actor and singer with an extensive CV. She trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Ursula Early: Much Ado Associate Director & Producer; Co-Artistic Director of ELSF:
Ursula has produced all of ELSF’s productions and tours including: Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and co-wrote and directed ELSF’s launch show Two Metres to Shakespeare. Ursula has also recently launched and directs ELSF’s Young Company – a youth theatre for East London 7-17 year olds. Alongside ELSF, she is also Producer for Walthamstow’s performance & community venue The CentrE17. Previous producing/ directing projects include: Welcome Festival (Blackhorse Arts), Desdemona: a Play About Handkerchief (PARK THEATRE), A Bold Stroke for A Husband and Double Indignity (UK Tour / Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds); regular new writing/comedy night Laugh Your Farce Off (Pleasance Theatre: Main House & Edinburgh). She was a producer on Old Vic New Voices TS Eliot US/UK Exchange. She is a professional actress with an extensive theatre and TV CV and trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Patrick Rufey – Musical Direction and composition
Patrick trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Musical Direction credits Include: Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty (Evolution Productions) NewsRevue 2012-2017 (The Canal Café Theatre, London), Jack & The Beanstalk (The Beck Theatre, QDOS), Jack & The Beanstalk (Buxton Opera House) Cole Porter’s Jubilee (UK Premier, The Tabard Theatre, London), Peter Pan (Paul Holman Associates Pantomime, The Oakengates Theatre, Telford), My Lands Shore (UK Premier Concert Production, The Royal Academy of Music, London) Paprika Crisps (The Unicorn Theatre, London), The Birds (The Leicester Square Theatre, London). Patrick is also Principal Conductor of The Virtual Theatre Orchestra.
As a Composer, Patrick has written for Talkwood Productions; a musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol (The Charing Cross Theatre), Jurassic Lark The Musical (Leicester Square Theatre). Most recently He has written 1066 A New Musical and the studio cast album is available on all streaming services.
Jennie Dunne – Choreographer and Movement Director
Jennie (Genevieve) Dunne is a movement director, choreographer and actress.
She is the Co-Artistic Director of NMT Automatics for which she has movement directed.
Choreography credits include: The Cambridge Fool’s When In Rome; Where’s Your Mama Gone (Hen and Chickens); The Matchgirls (RDC); The Abominable Snowman (Moon on a Stick Productions). Praise includes: ‘outstanding choreography’ (WhatsOnStage).
Andrew Hollingworth – Set designer & builder
Andrew is a regular collaborator on ELSF productions. He has been a set builder and designer for Redbridge Drama Centre on several of their Christmas productions. He has also been Tech Operator and Stage Manager on Katie Arnstein’s It’s A Girl Trilogy: Bicycles and Fish, Sexy Lamp and Sticky Door, and most recently on her production of The Long Run at the New Diorama Theatre. Andrew trained as an actor and writes and produces shows for his theatre company Buckle Up Theatre. He has taken his work to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and to other festivals in the UK, America and Europe and won multiple awards.
George Alexander – Scenic Artist
George is a designer, scenic artist and illustrator working across a wide range of creative industries, specialising in theatre and costume. With a background in sculpture from Goldsmith University, George began working as a scenic painter in 2010 and has worked on a number of films and music videos since. George’s recent work includes a giant mural painted in the lobby of the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge and an illustration collaboration with the Fashion and Textile museum.
