'When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married ....' Convinced they hate and despise each other , Beatrice & Benedick, two of Shakespeare's best-loved and most relatable characters, are determined not to give each other an inch, while the beautiful Hero and the handsome Claudio appear to make a perfect love match. But in the run up to the English Civil War, as families split on religious and ideological grounds, and brother Princes on opposite sides return, barely speaking, from the Scottish rebellions, the time is ripe for mischief and betrayal. A joyous mixture of love, comedy, plotting, revenge and bucolic English village life, with original music, gorgeous costumes and atmospheric sound and lighting, 2025's 'Much Ado About Nothing' is directed by Gill Morrell for Shakespeare Live. Performed in a lovely garden setting at Cleeve House, Seend, with audience under cover on tiered seats in the marquee. Picnics beforehand, refreshments on sale, parking, disabled access. No pets. Satruday's Gala Night includes lots of extra entertainment before the show.