The High Tor Players Present “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Spring 2025

Back in 1937, two years before the Second World War began, the High Tor Players were established in Matlock. So 2025 marks our 88^th anniversary!

Our name comes from our original rehearsal space: the High Tor Hotel on Dale Road. For eighty-eight years, we have entertained generations of families in Matlock and the surrounding towns and villages with over a hundred plays, starting with one called “First Meeting” in 1937, all the way to our most recent, which was “Pride and Prejudice” in 2024.

During all that time, the Players have regularly performed Shakespeare, but our last complete Shakespeare play (“Twelfth Night”) was performed twenty-five years ago, in the year 2000.

So we decided it was time to return to the Bard on our 88^th anniversary. We are performing Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing”, which the Players have never done before.

It concerns the on/off relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, the evil plotting of Don John, and Claudio and Hero’s wedding from hell. It’s the perfect romantic comedy for the Spring of 2025.

There will be live musicians on stage, as in Shakespeare’s day, but not a doublet and hose in sight! And we hope this will be a production that the whole family can enjoy, so you’ll see there are reduced-price tickets (£5) for under-18s, while adult tickets are just £12.50 each.

It’s at the Imperial Rooms, Matlock, on April 30^th, May 1^st, May 2^nd and May 3^rd, 2025. Tickets for all performances are available NOW via our website, www.hightorplayers.co.uk .

And, because we also want to engage people who may not have easy access to theatre, on Saturday May 3^rd we are offering a free matinee performance for people with visible and non-visible disabilities and people within the care community and their carers. Full details are on our website, including how to book seats for this special performance.

We do appreciate all the support we’ve had from audiences in and around Matlock for eighty-eight years, and we hope you enjoy our latest production.