Russell Beale and Wanamaker as Benedick and Beatrice From the opening peel of church bells and the warm glow that rises across balconied windows, it is clear that this will be a traditional interpretation of Shakespeare’s Sicilian-set comedy of love, marriage, disguise and villainy.

Caroline Bishop was in the first night audience of Much Ado About Nothing at the National Olivier ‘¦ Surrounded by those windows, which belong to the house of Leonato, Governor of Messina, set designer Vicki Mortimer has constructed a wooden stage revolve which forms the centre piece of all the action, cleverly creating different corners in which all the secret conversations, eavesdropping, plotting and scheming take place.

And there is much plotting in this play, beginning at the party which celebrates the return from war of Don Pedro and his fellow soldiers: young buck Claudio, weary cynic Benedick and Don Pedro’s outcast brother, the bitter Don John. Welcomed by Leonarto and eagerly anticipated by the household of women, including his daughter Hero, the arrival of the men sets in motion Shakespeare’s musings on love and marriage.

While the impetuous young Claudio (Daniel Hawksford) quickly expresses his love for fresh-faced Hero (Susannah Fielding) and a marriage is arranged, the naivety and innocence of their love is seen starkly in contrast to the cynical, world-weary attitude of Benedick and the equally indignant Beatrice ‘“ Hero’s older, unmarried cousin ‘“ who resume their long-held verbal sparring against love, marriage and each other.