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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing

cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare

The sparkling wordplay of Beatrice and Benedick are at the centre of this romantic comedy, which also brims with villainy, schemes, and deceit.

Comedy Classical Adaptation Shakespeare Shakespeare in an Hour

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 45 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
16 Characters
5 M4 F7 Any Gender, Doubling Possible
Set
Interior and Exterior
Length
26 pages
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

16 Characters
5 M, 4 F, 7 Any Gender, Doubling Possible

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

MALE:
DON PEDRO [M] 53 lines
A Prince from Aragon. Benedick and Claudio’s commanding officer.
DON JOHN [M] 27 lines
Don Pedro’s bastard brother.
BENEDICK [M] 72 lines
A soldier. In a relationship with Beatrice.
CLAUDIO [M] 42 lines
A soldier. In a relationship with Hero.
FRIAR FRANCIS [M] 13 lines
FEMALE:
BEATRICE [F] 60 lines
Leonato’s/Leonata’s niece. In a relationship with Benedick.
HERO [F] 24 lines
Leonato’s/Leonata’s daughter. In a relationship with Claudio.
MARGARET [F] 5 lines
Gentlewoman to Hero.
URSULA [F] 11 lines
Gentlewoman to Hero.
EITHER MALE OR FEMALE:
LEONATO/LEONATA [A] 51 lines
Governor of Messina. Hero’s father and Beatrice’s uncle.
BORACHIO/BORACHIA [A] 17 lines
Follower of Don John.
CONRADE/CONSTANZA [A] 11 lines
Follower of Don John.
DOGBERRY [A] 22 lines
A constable.
VERGES [A] 13 lines
A police recruit.
MESSENGER [A] 5 lines
SEXTON [A] 4 lines

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