A RIB-TICKLING, bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing comes to Howsham Mill next week.
Described by Sir Ian McKellen as "uproariously funny", the four-strong all-male HandleBards present Shakespeare’s plays as you have never seen them before – fast-paced, irreverent and bicycle-powered.
Since 2013, the HandleBards have pedalled more than 5,000 miles across the world, carrying all their set, props and costumes on just four bicycles.
On Friday, July 15, from 7pm, they are stopping off at the beautifully restored Howsham Mill to perform their rib-tickling production of Shakespeare’s joyous comedy.
Expect a "gloriously eccentric and very, very funny night", delivered on eight very sore legs. The HandleBards will be accompanied by live music from a local musician.
Much Ado About Nothing is part of HandleBards’ four for 400 season, which marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and sees the all-male troupe, and their all-female counterpart, perform four Shakespeare plays, each with four actors who will cycle to more than 70 venues across the country with all of their set, props and costumes in tow.
This is the HandleBards’ fourth UK season, having begun their adventure in 2013 with a 967-mile cycle from Glasgow to London. Back then, it was theatre on a shoestring, literally – the boys used shoelaces and a sponge to attach their trailers to their bikes.
Since then, the group has gone from strength to strength: they have grown from a set of friends with cheap bikes and a rickety old trailer to an internationally successful theatre company, performing their brand of fast-paced, bicycle-powered Shakespeare in 12 countries across three continents, winning the support of legions of fans, including British bicycle manufacturer Pashley, whose hand-crafted bikes the HandleBards will be riding throughout 2016.
“With six plays and 5,000 miles under our belt, we're ready for our biggest and most ambitious season yet," said producer and founder Paul Moss.
Tickets for Much Ado About Nothing are £13.59 and £16.75, including booking fee. To book, go to howsham-muchado.eventbrite.co.uk#sthash.fRfHusvU.dpuf
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