Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Live performance of 'Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespear' directed by Kim Durban, Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Ballarat. 8, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19 September 2010. Research Background: Companies all over the world have produced this Shakespeare play which enjoyed its first production by the Arts Academy. Research Contribution: This original Australian production used an innovative approach to the aesthetic of the play by setting the work in outer space, adapting the Shakespearean setting to an intergalactic universe and having each character played by 2 actors so that each had a clone who appeared with them. Original music and dance was also composed. Research Significance: The significance of this research is that it proved the authenticity and theatrical flexibility of the material and provided sophisticated benchmarks for artist training. Durban's ongoing interest in the 'persona' of casting was continued and developed, a study first outlined in her published article The Necklace Theory. Her dramaturgical approach also intersected with current Shakespeare scholarship and introduced the play to a regional audience. It's value is attested to by the following indicators: Cast and creative members have gained employment with national and international arts companies