7-17 May 2026
Tickets $20 - $35 (no additional fees!)
Available online at Trybooking or at iSite or at the door
45 minutes before curtain.
Step into a world of flower power, free spirits, and mischievous romance as Shakespeare’s beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing bursts into life in the vibrant era of the 1960s Summer of Love.
In a sun-soaked community buzzing with music, protest, and possibility, returning soldiers arrive home to celebration. Amid the swirl of peace signs, guitars, and colourful rebellion, two very different love stories unfold.
The young and dreamy Claudio falls head over heels for the gentle Hero, and their whirlwind romance seems destined for a perfect wedding day. But not everyone believes in love and harmony. The bitter and scheming Don John sets out to sabotage their happiness with a cruel deception.
Meanwhile, the real fireworks come from the battle of wits between the fiercely independent Beatrice and the charmingly arrogant Benedick. Determined never to fall in love, the pair trade razor-sharp insults with groovy flair—until their friends hatch a playful plan to trick them into discovering their true feelings.
Set against a backdrop of psychedelic colour, flower garlands, and the soundtrack of a generation dreaming of peace and change, this fresh take on Shakespeare’s timeless comedy celebrates love in all its messy, joyful forms.
Full of humour, mistaken identity, outrageous matchmaking, and heartfelt romance, Much Ado About Nothing reminds us that even in a world striving for peace and love… the course of true love never did run smooth.
Why you’ll love this production
• A vibrant 1960s Summer of Love setting bursting with colour and music
• Shakespeare’s sharp wit delivered with playful modern energy
• Iconic characters, hilarious misunderstandings, and joyful romance
• A celebration of community, rebellion, and the power of love
Bring your friends, bring your laughter, and get ready to fall in love all over again.
SPOILER ALERT
Much Ado About Nothing is one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, likely written between 1598 and 1599. It weaves together two contrasting romantic plots—one a traditional romance nearly ruined by villainy, and the other a "merry war" of wits between two skeptics.
SYNOPSIS:
The men have just returned from war and are looking for some fun and hopeful romance. The young soldier, Claudio, falls instantly in love with Hero, the daughter of Governor, Leonato. Their marriage is quickly arranged by Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, but not without some mischievous interference.
While the first couple swoons, Hero’s cousin, Beatrice, and Claudio’s friend, Benedick, engage in constant verbal sparring, both swearing they will never marry. Their friends, amused by their banter, plot to trick them into falling in love by letting each "overhear" that the other is secretly pining for them.
Don John, the Prince's illegitimate and resentful brother, seeks to ruin the upcoming wedding of Caludio and Hero. He and his henchmen stage a scene to make Claudio believe Hero has been unfaithful. On the wedding day, Claudio publicly shames Hero at the altar, causing her to faint. To protect her and buy time to prove her innocence, Leonato and a Friar announce that Hero has died of grief.
A bumbling local constable, Dogberry, and his watchmen accidentally overhear Borachio bragging about the deception and arrest him. The truth is brought to Leonato, and Claudio is overcome with remorse.
Leonato tells Claudio he must marry a "niece" of his who looks exactly like Hero as a way to atone. At the ceremony, the veiled bride is revealed to be the very much alive Hero. Having united in their defense of Hero, Beatrice and Benedick finally admit their feelings for each other. The play ends with a double wedding and the news that Don John has been captured.