ESSENTIAL Theatre is soon to bring Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing” to Murrumbateman’s Flint in the Vines for its annual Shakespeare in the Vines, with two shows this year.

It’s the company’s tenth year of touring the Bard’s works to open-air stages around the country, and artistic directors, Amanda LaBonte and Sophie Lampel, have chosen a perennial favourite in the romantic comedy that sees two of Shakespeare’s most articulate characters, Beatrice and Benedick, locked in a battle of words.

Innocent young Hero is famed by the motiveless villain Don John and her fiancé rejects her. Her cousin Beatrice and soldier Benedick, take up her cause. Against the odds, the local constables save the day.

“Much Ado” is hilarious and timeless. This version, directed by Anna McCrossin-Owen, is played in 1920s costumes and features Amanda LaBonte and Brad Flynn as two garrulous stars.

There’s some cross-dressing for the silly policemen Dogberry and Verges and, as Shakespeare’s title suggests, it’s all quite ridiculous, with a heart-warming message about the rewards of virtue.

Just the thing to wash down with a Murrumbateman vintage.

“Much Ado about Nothing”, at Flint in the Vines, Murrumbateman, 6.30pm, February 25 and 26, children under 16 years of age are free. Bookings to www.flintinthevines.net.au/events There is also accommodation on site, visit www.flintinthevines.net.au/accomodation.html