MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, directed by Stephen Thorne at Burbage Theatre Co

Burbage Theatre Co begins its 15th Season with William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” directed by Trinity Repertory Company member Stephen Thorne.

Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” is a sparkling comedy of love, wit, and second chances, where old rivalries, lingering misunderstandings, and carefully guarded reputations shape the lives of those caught between the past and the future. As the sharp-tongued Beatrice and Benedick spar in a battle of wits and the young lovers Hero and Claudio are tested by deception, long-held assumptions threaten to determine everyone’s fate. With humor, heart, and unexpected twists, the play reminds us that while the past may set events in motion, it does not have to dictate how the story ends.

Leading an ensemble of sixteen are Burbage Theatre Co artist Alison Russo as Beatrice and Burbage Theatre Co founding Artistic Director Jeff Church as Benedick.

Funny, fierce, romantic, and irreverent, “Much Ado About Nothing” pairs one of Shakespeare’s great comic romances with Burbage Theatre Co’s trademark reverent irreverence.

“Much Ado About Nothing” runs for 16 performances from September 17 through October 11, 2026, at Burbage Theatre Co’s Wendy Overly Studio Theatre, 59 Blackstone Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

Preview performances are September 17 and 18. Opening Night/Pay-What-You-Will is September 19. Performances continue Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm through October 11.

Tickets: $35 General Admission; $15 Preview Performances; $15 Students.