If it weren’t for the Three Inch Fools keeping me laughing all evening, I’d have eaten two family-size bag of crisps, and for that alone I thank them.

The group’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing was, as expected, brilliant. From juggling too many characters for the five of them, to purposefully dodgy accents and costume changes, the Fools did a great job of getting the plot of Shakespeare’s play across in the original language while adding modern touches and wit.

Despite Sunday evening’s performance being the 50th of their summer tour, the actors still had plenty of energy to sing and dance, and sprinkle some improv in, and Hazel Monaghan – who played too many characters to list – had the audience snorting with laughter when taking a sip of an unsuspecting guest’s drink before realising it was scalding-hot coffee.

She may have just burnt her mouth, but she stayed in character with a jordie accent, and came up with the clever line, “you don’t like it tepid, do ye?”

Samuel Freeman and Emily Waters, who took on the main roles of Benedick and Beatrice, also had perfect comedic timing – but then again so did they all, including the not-yet mentioned Samuel Nunes de Souza and Isobel Witcomb.

The heavens may have opened and threatened to wash the Fools away, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was just Shakespeare showing his approval by creating a mini tempest for them – the play was just that good.

The Three Inch Fools are touring until the end of September, and dates and locations can be found online.

EMMA WALKER