Much Ado About Wenlock

On your starting blocks! Vamos Theatre, in association with The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, presents its new touring production, Much Ado About Wenlock, a show about health, sports, a reforming doctor, and a runaway chicken!

In 1850, the Shropshire market town of Much Wenlock hosted its very own 'Olympian Games', which was to become an inspiration for the modern Games. Behind this seemingly mild-mannered event, where country sports combined with spelling and knitting races, lay a modern day struggle for equality and the right to health, set during the changing world of the Industrial Revolution.

In a captivatingly comic production that celebrates the Games' unlikely UK roots, Much Ado About Wenlock reveals a local doctor's determination to improve the health of all the townsfolk, rich or poor. Will Dr William Penny Brookes inspire the working men to swap their tipple for triple jumping? Will Beatty the schoolmistress win over the cynical Reverend Benedict? Will little Eddie Sankey triumph over the bullying butcher's boy, Archibald Blockley? And will our national love of the underdog be satisfied in this heroic piece of theatre?

A glorious full mask show, with original music, puppetry, physicality, and dance choreography, Much Ado About Wenlock is a hugely inventive adventure for audiences from eight to one hundred and eight!

Creative Team

Writer & Director: Rachael Savage click to read more about Rachael
Trestle Theatre, Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse...

Composer: Janie Armour click to read more about Janie
Trestle Theatre, The National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre...

Movement Director: Neil Bettles
Thickskin Artistic Director, Frantic Assembly Creative Associate...

Designer: Rob Dicks
Doctor Who, Birmingham Rep, Oxford Playhouse...

Mask Maker: Russell Dean
Strangeface, Trestle Theatre, BBC, The Old Vic...

Clown Consultant: Cal McCrystal
National Theatre, Spymonkey, 4 Poofs and a Piano...

Much Ado About Wenlock is currently touring throughout the UK.

For further information for bookers regarding technical requirements click here to view our Much Ado About Wenlock technical specification downloads

We also offer a Much Ado About Wenlock Teachers' Pack, full of great follow up ideas: click here to download the Much Ado About Wenlock Teachers' Pack 2012.

"very, very funny...you won’t fail to be delighted"
The Stage

"Much Ado About Wenlock is one of the most charming, delightful and perfectly inventive pieces of theatre seen in years. Vamos break new ground where other mask mime theatre companies fear to tread. Birth and death, gymnastics, Morris dancing and male nudity - all done with mask and mine - in the best possible taste. Charlie Chaplin would be full of admiration. The company express the heartfelt values of the originator of the Modern Olympics, William Penny Brookes, with a finely balanced mixture of sincerity and hilarity. Janie Amour's music and found-sound backing track is so witty I could have watched with my eyes closed."
BBC Radio Shropshire

"Laugh out loud funny, touching and enthralling."
Andrew Breakwell, Director Roundabout & Education, Nottingham Playhouse

"A visual delight..."
Carla Phillips, Eastern Daily Press

"Undoubtedly one of the best shows to have graced our stage!"
Paul Graham, Artistic Director & Booker, Market Theatre, Ledbury

"Vamos Theatre has struck gold with its Olympian masked theatre show Much Ado About Wenlock "
Ian Martin via Twitter

"Saw the show Tues, marvellous, creative, funny and touching. Anyone who hasn't seen Vamos is missing a treat"
Val Chambers via Twitter

"Fresh and pacey, warm and deep, Vamos fill a gap that has been gaping for years. More please.”
Mike Chase, Artistic Director, The Glasshouse Arts Centre

"What a brilliant show...the comic timing was superb, it was beautifully choreographed and the acting was amazing. The whole day was a real treat..."
Diane Robinson, Oak Grove College

"It was a pleasure and a privilege to have such a brilliant show at our village hall."
Dave Carless, Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall, Holloway

"This evening I had the pleasure and the privilege of seeing Much Ado About Wenlock at the Roses Theatre at Tewkesbury, and found the whole production outstanding... The three performers were superb throughout and all deserve gold medals."
Janet Monnington, Roses Theatre Tewkesbury

"I saw Much Ado About Wenlock at Hereford last night and thought it absolutely brilliant.  Thanks for the best theatrical experience I've had for a long time!"
Anne Skilbeck

"SO COOL!!!"
Jacob Buguss Rollo (aged 8), the egg, Theatre Royal, Bath

"Brilliant acting and absolutely marvellous that you will come to small village halls as well as large venues. A fantastic, fun evening, real live theatre accessible to all." Audience member, Kempley Village Hall

"Mask at its best. Restored my faith in theatre. Thank you."
A. Thomas, Deputy Head of Creative Arts, Merthyr Tydfil College

"The young people related to the themes within the play and had complete understanding, recognition, emotional connection and empathy with many of the characters portrayed so beautifully using the wonderful stories, masks and physicality within the production...The audience were clearly engaged with the performance evidentially by their cheers, boos and laughter throughout the piece! Thank you so much for bringing Much Ado About Wenlock to us!!!"
Tegan Waites, Valley Kids: Soar Centre

"Absolutely LOVED your show in Manton, Rutland, tonight. You were amazing."
Rosemary Gooding via Facebook

"Professional, slick, entertaining, fun, fabulous characterisation, well paced."
Sally Emery, Daglingworth Village Hall

"Saw you in Dulverton on Saturday. Awesome!! Still talking about it!!"
Steve Hall via Facebook

"Absolutely fantastic, totally amazed by the characters and production, completely captivated by the wit and humour.  What a wonderful evening, would highly recommend.  Worth every penny....."
Audience  member, The Crossing @ St Pauls

"Vamos Theatre’s Much Ado About Wenlock is a treat - unique, visual theatre at its best!"
Jenna Blair via Twitter

"OMG! Vamos Theatre are bringing the magical Much Ado About Wenlock to Norfolk!"
Emily Norton via Twitter

"The best seven quid I have spent in years. Thank you. P.S you should charge more"
Audience member, Stoke Golding Village Hall

"Tonight's show in MUCH WENLOCK was fantastic."
Rob Sharrock via Facebook

"I spent the first half with a lump in my throat because I felt so privileged to be watching such a wonderful piece of theatre."
Audience  member, Roses Theatre Tewksebury

"As a role model of professionalism, creativity, imagination and high quality performance, the work of Vamos is second to none.  For almost two hours the only sounds to be heard from their student audience, two hundred and fifty 11 to 13 year olds, were laughter and applause. From the 'Much Wenlock Olympiad' to the hilarious birth of the baby, the students were enthralled."
Head of Drama, Bishop Perowne School Worcester

“This has been the best day of my year! Fascinating and brilliant I thoroughly enjoyed it"
Mrs Price Stoke by Nayland Middle School

"Moving, surprising, unmissable"
Catherine Beale via Twitter

"Loved seeing Vamos Theatre for the first time this evening - a funny & moving piece; I'm amazed & inspired by the skill of the performers!"
Isabel Rennison via Twitter

"Brill! 3rd time tonight and even better!"
Pat & Colin, Lincoln Drill Hall

"My pupils were transfixed!"
Audience member, Worcester Arts Workshop

"Visual concept, brilliant, informed access to deaf people without the need for interpressers."
Beryl Strickland

Photo credits:

Neil Smith (sosfilmphotographysound.com)
Silvia Cataudo

 

• Click here to download: Much Ado About Wenlock Teachers' Pack 2012
• Click here to download: Cue Sheet: Much Ado About Wenlock Vamos Theatre
• Click here to download: Lighting Plan Much Ado About Wenlock Vamos Theatre Large A rev3
• Click here to download: Technical Requirements Much Ado About Wenlock Vamos Theatre