A tale of love, honour and second chances unfolds at Sheringham Little Theatre this week in a contemporary version of Shakespeare's wise-cracking comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

A tale of love, honour and second chances unfolds at Sheringham Little Theatre this week in a contemporary version of Shakespeare's wise-cracking comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

The play, which runs until Saturday, stars Little Theatre regulars Simon Stanhope and Martha Swann as reluctant soulmates Beatrice and Benedick, who are tricked by their friends Hero and Claudio (Holly Walters and Brett Lee Roberts) into confessing their love for each other.

Realising that, despite their constant exchange of witty insults, their friends are quite clearly meant for each other, young couple Claudio and Hero decide to turn matchmaker and make the feisty Beatrice and the wise-cracking Benedick fall in love.

Their plan is a success, but soon their own happiness - and their impending wedding - is under threat - from the bitter and scheming Don John.

Determined to put a spanner in the works and tear the lovers apart, the mean-minded troublemaker conspires with his cronies to prove Hero is a two-timing Claudio with his sidekick Boracchio.

Will Claudio fall for Don John's cunning plan and leave his fiancee standing at the altar? Or will he realise he has been hoodwinked into thinking his true love has been unfaithful? . . .

Directed by acclaimed stage and screen star Desmond Barrit, Much Ado About Nothing is being staged as part of the Little Theatre's 'Early Rep' season.

It follows Mr Barrit's success directing summer repertory plays at Sheringham, including Shirley Valentine, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and the sell-out musical Dames at Sea.

Little Theatre director Debbie Thompson said the production promised to offer excellent entertainment, both to people familiar with Shakespeare's plays, and for those new to the Bard's work.

Much Ado About Nothing runs at Sheringham Little Theatre until Saturday at 7.30pm (matinee Saturday at 2.30pm). Tickets, priced �11 Tuesday-Friday and �12 Saturday (concessions available for under 18s and families), are available from the box office on 01263 822347.

For more information, visit www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com