The Bard in the studio

Oxford University students bring their production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to the Mill Studio at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre from Wednesday to Saturday, September 5 to 8.

Messina, Sicily, 1958. Members of Italy’s most notorious crime family are assembling at Leonato’s estate. The wasteland of post-war Italy is making way for the seductive Dolce Vita. Life has never been so good. The women are as beautiful as the men are dangerous; image and reputation are everything, style and superficial gratification take centre stage.

But this is Sicily. The grip of honour, patriarchy, gossip and familial ties hasn’t yet loosened. Any slip-up can have very serious consequences indeed.

Tickets on 01483 440000.