The Bell Shakespeare company is coming to Lismore next month hosted by NORPA during a national tour of the play Much Ado About Nothing.

“As Australia’s national theatre company, our commitment is to make our work available to all Australians, including those outside capital cities,” Bell Shakespeare’s executive director Gill Perkins said.

“Our national tour is one of the most important things we do in pursuit of this mission and we are thrilled to present Much Ado About Nothing to Australians in 2019,” she said.

James Evans, who directed the company’s national tour of Julius Caesar in 2018, is steering this contemporary production of the Much Ado About Nothing as well.

“Much Ado About Nothing is the original ‘from hate to love’ romantic comedy that we’ve seen repeated in films and plays since Shakespeare’s time,” said Evans.

“But beneath its sparkling wit and hilarious characters, there is a dark conflict that drives this play to the edge of tragedy.

“The story flips from uproarious comedy to utter heartbreak in an instant, and then back again. That is the genius of Shakespeare, and why this play is one of my absolute favourites.”

Zindzi Okenyo (Antony and Cleopatra) stars as Beatrice, with Duncan Ragg as Benedick. They will be joined on stage by Vivienne Awosoga, Danny Ball, Marissa Bennett, Mandy Bishop, Will McDonald, Suzanne Pereira, Paul Reichstein and David Whitney.

Bell Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is on at the Lismore City Hall presented by NORPA on Wednesday 24 and 25.

 For tickets, go to www.norpa.org.au or call 1300 066 772.