Cinema Detroit is proud to bring the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to Detroit! As part of UK-based Picturehouse Entertainment’s “Live from Stratford-upon-Avon” program, we are screening two productions recorded live in Shakespeare’s hometown: Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won (usually known as Much Ado About Nothing). Longtime RSC collaborator, Christopher Luscombe, directs one acting company in both plays, which rejoice in our capacity to find love in the most unlikely places.

Love’s Labour’s Won takes place after WWI in Autumn 1918, as a group of soldiers return from the trenches. The world-weary Benedick and his friend Claudio find themselves reacquainted with Beatrice and Hero respectively. As memories of conflict give way to a life of parties and masked balls, Claudio and Hero fall madly, deeply in love, while Benedick and Beatrice reignite their own altogether more combative courtship. Shakespeare’s comic romance plays out amidst the brittle high spirits of a post-war house party, as youthful passions run riot, lovers are deceived and happiness is threatened – before peace ultimately wins the day.

Though this play is better known as Much Ado About Nothing, the title Love’s Labour’s Won was possibly given to it during Shakespeare’s lifetime. In that era, several different plays could have the same title, and titles were not fixed until repeated publication.

Love’s Labour’s Won – 4 shows only – No passes or special offers apply
Comedy – NR – 165 min – Tickets $10 – Get tickets online
Fri, April 10: 7:00 p.m.
Sat, April 11: 3:00
Sun, April 12: 5:00
Thurs, April 16: 7:00