Much Ado About Nothing

Alternative title
BBC Radio Collection: William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Synopsis
Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing adapted for radio by Sally Avens, with David Tennant as Benedick and Samantha Spiro as Beatrice. Introduced by Richard Eyre. Original music composed and performed by Simon Oakes and Adam Wolters.
Series
Sunday Play
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Audio; Radio
Transmission details
23 Sep 2001 at 18:30 (Channel: BBC Radio 3)
Duration
135 mins
Availability
Sale

Credits

Director
Sally Avens
Producer
Sally Avens
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Adam Wolters; Simon Oakes
Contributor
Richard Eyre
Cast
Samantha SpiroBeatrice
David TennantBenedick
Chiwetel EjioforClaudio
David WestheadDon Pedro
David HaigDogberry
David SwiftLeonato
David ThorpeBalthasar
David ThorpeMessenger
David ThorpeWatchman
David ThorpeServant
Dermot CrowleyFriar Francis
Emilia FoxHero
Helen AyresUrsula
Jonathan KeebleConrade
Jordan CalvertBoy serving Benedick
Julian Rhind-TuttDon John
Maxine PeakeMargaret
Peter GunnVerges
Sean BakerAntonio
Sean BakerSexton
Simon GreeneSinger at the tomb
Stephen CritchlowBorachio

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Much Ado About Nothing
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
drama in English; performances; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
Commercially released as part of the BBC Radio collection series in 2001, cassettes and CDs of the production that include an introduction by Richard Eyre and an essay by director Sally Avens are available for sale from the BBC Shop (www.bbcshop.com) or through retail outlets.
History
Originally broadcast as part of the BBC’s Shakespeare for the New Millennium season on Radio 3, in which the BBC mounted 17 new productions of Shakespeare in the space of four years. The emphasis of the productions is on a contemporary, innovative approach. The project was done in collaboration with BBC Worldwide, who were also responsible for the commerical release.

The production was scheduled to follow the BBC 1 television broadcast of the play on 7 November 2005 (BBC ShakespeaRe-Told season). Transmission was accordingly repeated on 13 November 2005 in the BBC Radio 3 ‘Drama on 3’ slot.
Documentation
Accompanying booklet including scene-by-scene analysis, brief biographies of the leading actors and Shakespeare, as well as an essay from the producer on the interpretation of the play.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email
listening@bl.uk
Web
http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7412 7676
Fax
020 7412 7441
Address
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Distributor (Sale)

Name

BBC Radio Collection, c/o Choices UK, 19-24 Manasty Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6UP, tel 01733 236800, fax 01733 230618, www.choicesdirect.co.uk

Email
enquiries@choicesuk.com
Web
http://www.choicesuk.com External site opens in new window
Phone
01733 236800
Fax
01733 230618
Address
c/o Choices UK
19-24 Manasty Road
Orton Southgate
Peterborough
PE2 6UP
Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Much Ado About Nothing". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/14584 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)