UWA grads

If you have ever enjoyed discussing character and plot development, themes and motifs with your fellow book or film-club members, then The University of Western Australia's Graduate Dramatic Society have a novel idea you might consider.

They are currently rehearsing their 14th summer Shakespeare production, Much Ado About Nothing, to be performed from March 4, and will welcome those in clubs a special rate of two for the price of one.  As well, Grads will invite these new ‘play-club' members the opportunities to discuss the play with award-winning director, Stephen Lee, at intermission.

The play's cast covers a range of generations from 93 year-old David Goodall of Yanchep, who has been acting for 80 years, and a young thespian, Nick Britton of Yokine, who learnt his Elizabethan English lines by typing them into his portable media player.

Mr Lee, of Willagee, has set the comedy in 1920s England, a period which he said was compatible with the drama's original setting.

"I did this for three reasons.  First, the play involves people returning from war and wanting to have fun.  Second, there are conflicts about a woman's ability to stand up in a man's world - in the 1920s, women were on the brink of emancipation.  Third, the twenties ‘look' is so beautiful.  There is more freedom and boldness - women were no longer having to wear restrictive whalebone, bustles and hoops," Mr Lee said.