★★★★☆

As Shakespeare once said – though not in this particular play – ‘all the world’s a stage’: we all play roles in life. But this phrase can be taken another way. Theatre is all around us and creates magic wherever we are. It could be at a big West End theatre with elaborate set and costumes, or it could be a local village hall production with set, lovingly created by volunteers and not always staying still when it is knocked by the cast.

Or it could be like this – a patch of grass and some trees. A space that feels so ordinary until actors arrive with a few props, and an audience with chairs and picnic blankets. So simple, and yet magic is still created.

This production of Much Ado About Nothing was performed by Unbound as part of their annual Buckinghamshire Shakespeare Festival. Based in Aylesbury they aim to create stories and take theatre to the community. The tour played at their home venue, Queen’s Park Arts Centre, Wycombe Museum, Nag’s Head (Great Missenden), Buckingham Library, Waddesdon Manor, Sunneyhill Barn (Rowsham) & The King’s Head (Aylesbury).

It was to Waddesdon Manor I went on a slightly-cloudy-with-a-hint-of-rain Sunday afternoon. There, on a patch of grass surrounded by trees that Shakespeare’s comedy of romance and unlikely pairings unfolded. This was what I like to think of as ‘raw’ Shakespeare. As an audience member you have to do some work to imagine the setting but I have to say that the glorious cast made this very easy.

Erika Sanderson and Philip Donnelly were first class as the love-hate duo Beatrice and Benedick. Erika fully commanded the stage when she was on, engaging with the audience and – very important in an outdoor setting – projected her voice clearly. These two excelled in their witty banter with each other. A lovely duo.

Erika Sanderson (Beatrice) and Philip Donnelly (Benedick)

The second romantic pairing in the play of Claudio and Hero was played by Michalis Karatzas and Hannah Rogers. They made a delightful couple – though of course we all wanted to hate Claudio as he believed the lies about Hero. Surely a sign of a successful performance from Michalis. The moment when Hero is jilted at the altar was portrayed with genuine emotion from both Hannah and Erika as she comforted her cousin.

Hannah Rogers (Hero), Jo Emery (Ursula), and Erika Sanderson (Beatrice)

I have to mention Stephen J Davies as Dogberry, the constable in charge of the night watch. His performance was hilarious – and reminded me of Baldrick from Blackadder. His physicality added to the scene and he had the audience laughing almost from the moment the character came on stage.

Stephen J Davies (Dogberry) and Jacki Dann (Verges)

The play was directed by Dario Knight and he ensured some lovely moments – such as the night watchmen scenes, and Benedick surreptitiously listening in to Don Pedro (Gareth Johnson), Leonato (Robert Aldington), and Claudio under a cargo net!

The cast was completed by Jacki Dann (Verges) Jo Emery (Ursula and Borachio), Micky Scott (Margaret and Conrade), Andrew Faber (Don John and Sexton), and Filipa Garrido (Friar Frances and Messenger).

Robert Aldington (Leonato), Erika Sanderson (Beatrice), Michalis Karatzas (Claudio), Gareth Johnson (Don Pedro), and Philip Donnelly (Benedick)

And so was the tale of how the gardens of a Buckinghamshire Manor House became the gardens of Messina. It could not have been further from Sicily, and yet this talented troupe transported us there for a very enjoyable couple of hours.

You can learn more about Unbound at their website – https://unboundtheatre.co.uk