Much Ado About Nothing Live Lesson

The Live Lesson is approximately 1 hour long but as an on-demand video, you can watch it at your own speed, focus on key elements or pause for in-class discussions.

The link below will take you through to YouTube where you can watch the Live Lesson on-demand. If you need help setting up to watch the broadcast, please read our Technical Requirements. If you are still experiencing technical problems, you can contact our team at schoolsbroadcast@rsc.org.uk

WATCH THE LIVE LESSON

About the production

The lesson is linked to the 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Roy Alexander Weise (joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester). Set designed by the award-winning Jemima Robinson, the production features costume designs by Melissa Simon-Hartman, who has designed for Beyoncé and Notting Hill Carnival, and an original score by Nigerian-born British guitarist and MOBO award-nominated musician Femi Temowo whose past collaborators include Amy Winehouse and The Roots.

Director Roy Alexander Weise describes his approach to the production as: 

"Shakespeare was all too aware of the creative potential that came with setting his plays in imagined worlds… or at least worlds unfamiliar to his audience at the time. Far off landscapes like Antium, Ephesus, Syria, Venice and Verona were as far removed from the world of 16^th century England as the future feels to us today, providing Shakespeare with the perfect canvas on which to paint. Living in a 21^st Century global society, our world is much smaller and more connected, which is why I wanted to explore what a futuristic vision of society might look like; what has the potential to be different, what potential is there for change, and equally what fundamental aspects of the human condition remain unchanged?”.

Find out more

• Watch audience reactions and clips from the show with this feature trailer. 
• Watch this audio described film of our Touch Tour which takes you onstage and backstage and discusses some of the costumes and props used in the play, as well as the themes behind the designs.
• Watch designer Melissa Simon-Hartman and photographer Asiko talk about Afrofuturism, describing what it is and what it means, and how we've used it in Much Ado About Nothing.  
• Watch a short video introducing you to the cast of Much Ado About Nothing. This was filmed behind-the-scenes and it is a great way of meeting the actors involved in the production. 

See some production images below showcasing some of the costumes designed by Melissa Simon-Hartman. 

Exploring the play

We have a number of resources to help students access and understand the play, including:

• Our 2022 Much Ado About Nothing Teacher Pack
• Information about the play and previous RSC productions, including galleries and videos
• Our interactive learning site, the Shakespeare Learning Zone
• An animated synopsis of Love's Labour's Won (Much Ado About Nothing)
• A British sign language synopsis of Much Ado About Nothing