Ignoring the vagaries of the Irish summer, preparations are going ahead for a spectacular outdoor production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing as the centrepiece of the theatre programme for Kilkenny's Arts Week, from August 15th to 23rd. Tiered seating for 500 people will be provided for this production which will be staged in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle. The festival is now in its 25th year.
Two key roles in the production will be taken by comedian Owen O'Neill and comic actor Ray McBride. Translating the work into a 1950s setting, they will play two gardai. The backdrop will be the aftermath of a hurling match between fierce rivals Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Druid actor and director, Maeliosa Stafford, will be co-director of the production with Australian director and actor John O'Hare. The event is a co-production between the local Bickerstaffe Theatre Company and Kilkenny Arts Week.
In 1994 Bickerstaffe had a major success with an outdoor production of Macbeth, also at Kilkenny Castle.
The arts week offers an expanding programme of events, spanning many art forms. Classical, traditional, rock and jazz music are strongly featured. At the Butler Gallery there will be a major retrospective exhibition of the artistic highlights of 25 years of the arts week.
Programme details and bookings are available at (056) 52175.