A new adaptation of 'Love's Labour's Lost' is coming to Shakespeare North Playhouse next year

Shakespeare North Playhouse and the Stephen Joseph Theatre has announced a vibrant new adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost (More or Less) for 2025.

Opening at Shakespeare North Playhouse Friday 28 February to Saturday 22 March, Love’s Labour’s Lost (More or Less) will then play at the Stephen Joseph Theatre from Thursday 27 March – Saturday 19 April.

The show follows on from the huge success of the two theatres’ co-production of The Comedy of Errors (more or less) in the spring of 2023, which was UK Theatre Award-nominated.

Directed by Stephen Joseph Theatre’s Artistic Director Paul Robinson, this new adaptation, again by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane, will set the story of four young men attempting to improve themselves by swearing off sex in mid-90s Ibiza… Shakespeare’s riotous comedy is brought to life in the nineties, featuring belting musical numbers in the era of boy bands and Girl Power.

A new adaptation by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane set in mid-90s Ibiza.

The stags have made a solemn promise to each other: this is a boys’ weekend. Don’t talk to any girls, don’t even think about any girls and most importantly, do not contact the hens.

The hens are ready for fun in the sun when the resort calls to say they’ve had to relocate them… to a hotel in Ibiza. Both groups of revellers are stuck on the same Mediterranean island. Cue: shoddy disguises, mislaid love letters and theatrical chaos.

Co-writer Elizabeth Godber said:

“I’m so excited to be back working with Nick, the SJT and Shakespeare North on another hilarious Shakespeare adaptation. Love’s Labour’s Lost is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and to get the chance to play with the language, develop the (already great) female characters, and add in plenty of 1990s pop classics has been an absolute joy! I can’t wait for audiences to come and see the show it’s funny, irreverent, and I’m sure Shakespeare would approve – he would have definitely been a Britpop fan!”

Director Paul Robinson says:

“We had the most enormous fun making The Comedy of Errors (more or less) in the spring of 2023, and our audiences did too! We couldn’t resist following it up with another of the Bard’s early comedies, this time set a decade later in the midst of the party era that was the 1990s. We’ll again be including some great music from the period, and just wait until you see those 90s fashions again…”

Laura Collier, Creative Director at Shakespeare North Playhouse:

“After the success of our 2023 co-production of Comedy of Errors (More or Less)—a show so entertaining that people kept coming back for more—we knew we had to join forces again.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the Stephen Joseph Theatre again, alongside the talented writers Nick Lane and Elizabeth Godber. We all share a deep love for Shakespeare and his timeless tales, and a passion for exploring and presenting fresh, exciting perspectives and reworkings. A perfect foundation for an outrageously fun Love’s Labour’s Lost. We can’t wait to see what lies in store when we’re all transported back to the 90s”

Casting and creative team to be announced.