Theatr Clwyd to Stage Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

In Theatr Clwyd's 40th anniversary year, Artistic Director Tamara Harvey today announces her directorial debut - a major new production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Never before produced by Theatr Clwyd, in the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare's death this will also be Clwyd's 400th production. Much Ado opens on 14 June, with previews from 9 June and runs until 2 July.

Nothing can keep young lovers Claudio and Hero apart... Until the underhand cunning of the villainous Don John threatens their marriage.

Benedick and Beatrice are embroiled in an altogether more mischievous battle of wits... Surely nothing can bring the sparring pair together?

Tamara Harvey said today, "I am so thrilled to announce my directorial debut for June of this year, having watched with pride from the sidelines as Robert Hastie - and now Lisa Spirling and Phillip Breen - create such beautiful work on our stages whilst I've been having a baby.

"Clwyd has never staged a production of Much Ado About Nothing before and so it seems fitting that in the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare's death we should be presenting, for our 400th production, one of his most popular comedies as we begin our own 40th birthday celebrations as a company.

"Before then, we're hugely excited about the regional première of April de Angelis' acclaimed Jumpy which begins previews this week and a new production of Cyrano De Bergerac, starring Steffan Rhodri, which opens in April."

Before joining Theatr Clwyd as Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Tamara Harvey was a freelance director for fifteen years, directing in the West End, throughout the UK and abroad. Beginning her career at Shakespeare's Globe, her first major productions as director were the all-female Much Ado About Nothing, the first UK tour of The Graduate and as co-director with Terry Johnson on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Christian Slater, Frances Barber and Mackenzie Crook. Her most recent directing credits include Pride and Prejudice at the Sheffield Crucible, the world premiere of Tim Rice's musical From Here To Eternity in the West End and the award-winning The Kitchen Sink at the Bush Theatre. Harvey directed the premières of Elephants by Rose Heiney, Hello/Goodbye by Peter Souter and In the Vale of Health, a cycle of four plays by Simon Gray, all for Hampstead Theatre. Other world premières include Breeders (St James' Theatre); The Contingency Plan and tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! (both Bush Theatre); Where the Mangrove Grows (Theatre503); Who's the Daddy? (King's Head) and Plague Over England (Finborough Theatre & Duchess Theatre). Other West End productions include Bash (Trafalgar Studios) and Whipping it Up (New Ambassadors). Further theatre work includes Educating Rita and Smash (both Menier Chocolate Factory/Theatre Royal Bath and on tour); Romeo and Juliet (Theatre of Memory at Middle Temple Hall); Dancing at Lughnasa (Birmingham REP); Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Importance of Being Earnest (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Touch Wood (Stephen Joseph Theatre); Closer (Theatre Royal Northampton) and Tell Me On a Sunday (UK tour).

Janet Bird returns to Theatr Clwyd as Designer after recently working on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Recent design credits include the Olivier Nominated 4 Minutes 12 Seconds at Hampstead Theatre and Age of Arousal at Edinburgh Lyceum. Other credits include The Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Holding Fire (Shakespeare's Globe), The Madness of George III (Apollo), Enjoy (Gielgud) The Rocky Horror Show (Playhouse), Uncle Vanya (St James'), Alphabetical Order (Hampstead) Science Museum Live: The Energy Show (Science Museum), Adult Supervision and Contact.com (Park Theatre).

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