MADCAP by name and hilariously so by nature… this is no-holds Bard in all its glorious lunacy.

There can be no way of telling if William Shakespeare ever personally witnessed the manoeuvrings and machinations of the Tudor Court. In all likelihood, whatever snippets he picked up by way of potential material was probably via contacts and snoops.

In any event, he was too much of a Warwickshire wheeler and dealer to offend anyone really important, which is why he invariably chose nice and safe Italian settings, in this case Messina.

Yet his universal themes know neither time nor borders and this is why his breakneck tale of literal and emotional swordplay resonates as much today as it did more than 400 years ago.

Artistic directors Emma Leigh and Patricia Hobday run a very tight and talented ship, home port being the north Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, and a place that seems to be brimming with theatrical talent.

So we’re spoiled for choice, and although it’s difficult to know where to start with the role of honour, begin we must, and therefore first accolade goes to Jefferson Bond as Benedick, whose performance was a roller coaster ride of wit and buffoonery from start to finish.

And as we know, the course of true love could never run smoothly as far as his courtship of Beatrice is concerned, and all the more so as Matilda Bott uses every grimace, flounce, pout and piece of petulance to keep him and his infernal codpiece at a safe distance.

At times, it seems as if we’ve suddenly strayed into Shrewsville, which of course is quite another Shakespeare number altogether.

For any tale of perfidy, endless plots and subterfuge, a convincing villain is required, and Robert Moore as the scheming Don John is perfect. He is obviously a student of the Dick Dastardly and Muttley school of acting and it’s a wonder that he didn’t get a few hisses and boos every time he made his entrance, although it should be noted that this very polite Worcester crowd ensconced with picnics and wine in the Greyfriars gardens notably refrained from such exhibitionistic vulgarities.

But everyone was a star. Your heart does indeed bleed for Hero (Eva McKenna) as the ludicrously handsome Claudio (James Labdarbs) does the dirty on her while Claire Seller’s rapid costume changes and multi-tasking as Margaret/Conrade/Friar took your breath away.

Elsewhere, Nick Baldock (Don Pedro/Seacoal) managed to alternate from aristocratic loftiness to village idiot as smoothly as a gentleman’s dagger can slide between one’s ribs.

Last but not least we have Borachio, a combination of plotter, dupe and ultimately cringing cur. Rich Strange, looking for all the world like a refugee from The Revenant gives the job his best shot, besides sporting the best whiskers in what otherwise is a field of stubbly boy beards and facile facial fluff.

Yes, this was a fabulous way to spend a lazy August afternoon… and may Madcap Theatre Productions be back before too much water has run under Worcester’s Severn bridge.