Much Ado About Nothing — Queensland Theatre Company

Overview

Forget self-help books claiming than men are from one planet and women are from another. If you want to understand the battle of the sexes, you'd best brush up on your Shakespeare. The Bard didn't just have a way with words; he also offered audiences a keen insight into the human condition.

Take Much Ado About Nothing, for example. Sure, it's a rom-com filled with bickering and bantering. Yes, it has been turned into a film featuring Keanu Reeves — and another directed by Joss Whedon. Beyond all that, though, it's a clever comedy that gets to the core of matters of the heart.

No wonder that the Queensland Theatre Company have chosen to revisit the timeless tale to mark the 400th anniversary of the great playwright's death. Of course, with Jason Klarwein making his main-stage directorial debut, that's not all they're doing. Fancy a dash of starry-eyed lovers combined with a version of OutKast's 'Hey Ya', or a fast-paced relationship rollercoaster mixed with a Hamilton Island-inspired tropical location, anyone?

Image: David Kelly.