So, I was here thinking I was being clever not doing English at A Level! Well turns out I'm bloody not. My school took a trip to Stratford last night to see this play, and they came back last night and told me all about it.......and guess who was the main part? Tamsin Grieg! So not only did I miss the opportunity to go see her on stage - I also missed the chance to meet her because my friends being as annoying as usual decided just to spite me they'd go and say hello to her. So during the interval off they trotted and started chatting away to her!!
I was informed this morning during my daily torture of RS! And I got it rubbed in my face didn't I!! I was fuming!
Anyway, I think its on for a couple of days so if you anyway near stratford, I can't remember what theatre its at, but look for it, get some tickets cos apparently you won't regret it. I heard she was fantastic in it and was an amazing actress. Last night was the opening night so plenty of opportunities to still go see it.
Please bring back good stories if you go! lol.

Oh and sorry if this has been posted elsewhere!

lol that does suk dont it

Aghhh I'm actually on the mailing list for the RSC, but usually only go to performances in London. Maybe it will get transfered :) What's really annoying is I've binned all the latest stuff they've sent through to me so can't even see if there are any pictures of her.

I hope your friends brought you back a programme.

Managed to find a promotional picture

yay!! haha.....

i hope it carries on at other theatres as well, all the tickets are sold out until it ends for this one in stratford!!

of course they didn't bring me back to programme! would they be that considerate!

there was a little bit on tamsin in the week a couple of weeks ago, and a little picture! she's a bit of a poser! ;)

I aboslutely HAVE to see this production! It combines all of my favourite things:

Cuban music
Costumes of the 1950s
Much Ado about Nothing (My favourite Shakespeare play, on a par with Romeo and Juliet)
TAMSIN GREIG!

anyone have an idea how much tickets are?? ... its a stupid question really but oh well

It's playing at The Swan from 11 May to 12 October. You can quite often get standing tickets at the door on the day, it's quite a few years since I've done this but it cost about £10 each. Bound to have gone up by now.

Also this play is 3 hours long with one 20 minute interval, so you'd have to be prepared to stand for a very long time and also you are right up at the top of the top tier. It is a small theatre though so there's a great atmosphere, you just find yourself looking down on the actors head's a lot.

Otherwise the tickets start at around £20 (I think) although I get associate member prices so full price will be about £5 more ?

Another picture


And The Guardian Unlimited's review:-

Reviews roundup: Much Ado About Nothing

Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tuesday May 23, 2006


The unusual setting of Marianne Elliott's production of Much Ado About Nothing in pre-revolutionary Cuba proved irresistibly sultry for reviewers in a soggy Stratford.

Despite failing to discern any very clear rationale for the relocation from Sicily, critics delighted in the "sun-soaked", "rum-soaked", "seriously seductive" production, a cornerstone of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works season and Elliott's company debut.

Charles Spencer for the Telegraph was enthusiastic, calling it "as fresh, funny and touching a production of Much Ado about Nothing as it has ever been my pleasure to witness" and the Stage described the performance as "punchy and raunchy".

Commending the salsa accompaniment by Olly Fox, the Times revelled in "an atmosphere of voluptuousness and danger".
Tamsin Grieg, best known for the Green Wing and the Archers, enjoyed uniform acclaim for her performance as Beatrice, playing her with "a dark, brittle glamour that isn't quite beauty" and, as the Telegraph decided, "a disconcerting touch of Edwina Currie."

Her pairing with Joseph Millson's laddish Benedick was "sizzling", according to the Times, which said Grieg's Beatrice "almost vibrates with frustration".

Don Pedro, Don John and a Dogberry complete with a pink corset also drew pleasure, though for the Stage a walking rubber plant provided the highlight of a generally memorable performance.

:o not sure about the Edwina Currie comment :angry:

i may be completely wrong, but i hav heard that much ado is coming to the west end or something

even if it does, it probably wont have tamsin grieg in it, but there is hope

I would be so effing annoyed if I were you, m+cshipper. That's one of those incredibly infuriating situations.

Whooo hoooo it's transfering to the West End for one month only and guess who's sent off for tickets.

it has got Tamsin in it. And once this production has finished she's going to be in King John with the RSC as well :)

the SUA tickets have been sold out for a while for both shows, there is only 1 month left of much ado anyway

BUT many of you will be happy to know that it IS coming to the novello theatre (formally known as the strand) in London's west end for a month from december 7th i think to the 6th jan (more info is on my site if you want to check it out ;) )

umm tickets for this go on sale on september 30th I'm phoning as soon as those phone lines open i'm NOT missing this again!!

I'm so pleased I pay my £15 a year to be a member of the RSC, it means I get priority booking B) and slightly cheaper tickets :thumbsup

And guyoline you're right. It starts on the 7th December. the 7,8 and 9th are all preview performances, and then it runs through to the 6 January.

Press Night is 16 December - I wonder if Tamsin will invite all her London acting friends to come along, i.e. Stephen and Julian :high

I'm soo looking forward to getting my tickets now I just really want to see tamsin,

do you know what it means by "special event??" would it be better to go on a special event day or a normal one I'm not sure?????

I haven't a clue what the 'special event' performances means :unsure: so I've avoided those ones, along with the 'Audio described performance' and 'open captioned performance' ones.

So if anyone here lives in or near Newcastle it's your lucky day. Much Ado is playing there for November

CLICK ME

I just hope Tamsin doesn't collapse in a heap by the time this play makes it to London :unsure:

I've booked my tickets for this today!!!!
Absolute bargain of £5 each for me and my other half (gawd bless the RSC and their offers for 16-25year olds - I just squeak in on the age restriction!!)

Can't wait!! Almost makes up for not being able to go to the dvd signing!!

:excited

when r u going? we might b going on the same day :)

I want to go!

*cries*

im going
woooop.

the friday before christmas!!!! i'm so excited!!!!

everyone at work today had to put up with me clapping and squealing 'I've booked my tickets!' every 5 mins!!

aww haha.
cos im doing drama gcse, im going to have to take some paper and a pencil and write about the play for a review :ph43r:

I'm going on the 16 December to the Matinee :high

myb i can convince my drama teach to by us tickets. tho like u pingu i wood have to right yet another :swearing essay. God I hate those things....*shakes fist.* Maybe the special thing is for celbs. I.e a sexy donkey boy and a frais blonde hunk. Omg i think that is the first time i have eva used the word hunk

*reverts to a 5-yr-old* I'm going tomorrow, I'm going tomorrow, I'm going tomorrow, I'm going tomorrow, I'm going tomorrow, I'm going tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not showing off or anything.... Shall I give her the address of this site? (The thought just occurred to me!)

yes yes yes yes yes! iver her the address of this site and oh can you give her the address of my tamsin site too? i'll give her the address when i see her but still - always helps to give it to her twice :)

Shall do so! I cld do her a letter too.. is that gay? Ah who cares? Homosexuals are IN!!! :ph43r:

i wrote her a letter ages ago but i may re-write it - oh gosh i need to add soo much more to my letter :lol:

OMG you must give her the site's adress. imagine if she posted something, under the name luvingthemacster!

:lol:
ahh i cant wait to go see it! :excited

Cupboard! please tell me if it is good!! ohh and if you get to meet her! ekk!
I cant wait till saturday!! im oh some kind of dizzy high

Just got in (check the time- lol!) It was amazing- she's so good! Her physicality and facial expressions make her character so funny!

I met her and Richard (her husband) afterwards. She didn't say much but signed my programme. I gave har a sheet with both this site and the Tamsin Greig forum addresses on it so hopefully she'll have a peak.

One of the other cast members (a rly fit one too!) lives near me and said he'd look out for my car! Are you going in the eveining on Sat, Jess?

Enjoy yourself! It's amazing, and for those who can't come and see it (even though some tickets are going for a fiver according to the London Paper), I rly hope Tamsin takes a look at these sites!

xxxxxxx
*squee*

aww wow!
i can't wait to go :) i hope i get a chance to meet her!

You met Tamsin? *hyperventilates* I hope she does come on here, that would be amazing.

Just stand like a stalker round the back and say "hi" to Shane Frater (Watch) for me- he lives near me! :D.

Tamsin rly didn't say much- I think she was just tired after such an amazing perf. I may go and stalk.. I mean see her another night. Pref when some of u guys r there so I don't stick out like a sore thumb (again)! I didn't even bring the bin!

I'll go with you at some point :) maybe on the 19th??cause i'll have to buy a travelcard that day anyway so we could go then :)

oooooooooh I want to go!!!!

*whispers*

Rosalind, aren't you in Nottingham on the 19th?

OMG!! im glad you had a good time!!
I cant wait i have butterflies and i feel rather sick but in a good way!! OHHH i bet its going to be amazing!!
Going at like 8 tomorrow which is actually really late, well seeing as it on for three hours, shall be getting home very late!
ohh its going to be anaming day, my dad is taking me to dinner, then wre going up to hamtsed heath to get a cake then going to oxford so i go hamley's and find the perfect present for my secret santa!! and then ohhh best of all i get to go to the theatre watch an amazing play and ohhh and with any luck i will get to meet tamsin! ekk!!

ohhh cupboard what did you get signed!!
lol i want to get all my green wing, black books and love soup signed but i think that will be pushing it really? or will it?

I only got my programme signed as 1) don't have a pen and 2) thought they may do bag searches. (They don't)

Hope u had a gd time, Jess!