Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (reviewed Saturday 13 December 2025).
It’s summer on the South Coast. Cicadas hum. Stumps are set up for backyard cricket. Pop songs drift from the stereo. Beatrice and Benedick are back from the city for the holidays, trading jabs while sparks fly. Produced by Kate Smytheman and Madison Chippendale, sweet creatures brings signature flavour to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Its intentionally cheesy — as in, Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas Is You” kind of cheesy. The cast clearly lean into it, and the Aussie summer touches — beach bonfires, local references, playful costumes — add to the sunny mischief.
But Shakespeare? The diction is all over the place. Lines that should sing through centuries feel rushed, almost incidental. The actors are confident and well-rehearsed, but the honey and punch of the text barely gets a look-in. You can see the fun they’re having, but it makes you miss the poetry, the wit, the bite that really makes Much Ado sparkle.
And although many productions intentionally de-academise Shakespeare, making him accessible for all, there is a difference between accessibility and throwing away perfectly beautiful lines, almost for fear of ‘sounding too polished and formal.’
Give us the polish. The shine. The gloss that makes Shakespeare come alive in our souls.
On the upside, there’s an unmistakable Aussie charm. Melbourne and Canberra references, playful costumes, and seasonal touches give it a local, sunburnt edge. And honestly, I think the play and I were on the same page about experiencing love and betrayal.
Production- and staging-wise, the choreography uses the space quite well. The audience clearly enjoyed it. If you love your Shakespeare with a side of sausage sizzle and silly season vibes, it’s a fun ride.
Just don’t expect the text to fizz.
Much Ado About Nothing played at Sydney Acting Studio till 14 December.
Credits:
Images: Supplied
Cast & Creatives
Producer: Kate Smytheman
Producer & Director: Madison Chippendale
Cast: Theo Rule, James Yeargain, Andrea Magpulong, Madison Chippendale, Lola Carlton, Bora Celebi, Eduardo Delamare, Evie Laurence, and James Papadakis.