Much Ado About Nothing Opens the 36th Season of Bard on the Beach

A Mediterranean Inspired Much Ado About Nothing Opens 36th Season of Bard on the Beach

May 1, 2025, Vancouver, BC / Traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations – Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival launches its 36th Season in Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park with Much Ado About Nothing. One of Shakespeare’s wittiest plays gets a classic reimagining this summer under the clever guidance of director Johnna Wright with additional text by Canadian playwright Erin Shields.

“The creative talent we continue to showcase at Bard on the Beach is an incredible reminder of the many talented artists in Canada,” says Christopher Gaze, Bard on the Beach Artistic Director. “We are thrilled to bring Johnna Wright back to our festival this summer. Audiences may recall her brilliant work with The Merry Wives of Windsor and her co-direction of All’s Well That Ends Well. Her keen eye and sharp wit are a perfect match to bring this play to life on our BMO Mainstage.”

Love, lies, and laughter collide in Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s sunniest and sassiest comedy! In the idyllic town of Messina, soldiers return victorious—and so does trouble. The sharp-tongued Beatrice (Jennifer Lines) and the charming Benedick (Sheldon Elter) are longtime sparring partners who swear they’ll never fall in love… until their friends hatch a hilarious plot to trick them into admitting their true feelings. Meanwhile, the sweet young couple Hero and Claudio (Jennifer Tong and Angus Yam) have their wedding plans thrown into chaos when the scheming Don John (Karthik Kadam) spreads a wicked lie. With mistaken identities, fake deaths, and a little help from the delightfully clueless Constable Dogberry (Scott Bellis), the truth finally comes out, and love wins the day — in the most unexpected ways. Packed with witty banter, wild twists, and sun-drenched romance, this countryside romp proves that the course of true love never did run smooth… but it’s a lot more fun that way!

Additional cast members of Much Ado About Nothing cast members include Jennifer Clement, Steffanie Davis, Paige Fraser, Kristi Hansen, Matthew Ip Shaw, Sebastian Kroon, Jacob Leonard, David Marr, Agnes Tong, and Tanner Zerr.

Adds Johnna Wright, “We’re placing these characters in a Mediterranean inspired party, making room for something transformative to happen. And for me, what really makes it special is the incorporation of the text written by Erin Shields for the Stratford Festival’s 2023 production. It’s done with real allegiance to the characters Shakespeare created and gives voice to Hero’s pain enhancing the play in a very satisfying way.”

This “Mediterranean house party” is brought to life by Set Designer Pam Johnson with exquisite countryside details of stone walls and vineyards under sun-drenched lighting by Lighting Designer Sophie Tang with striking costumes using natural fibres and natural dyes by Costume Designer Mara Gottler. Additional members of Much Ado About Nothing’s production team include Mishelle Cutler (Sound Designer), Jonathan Hawley Purvis (Choreographer/Fight Director), Lisa Goebel (Intimacy Director), Alison Matthews (Head Voice & Text Coach) and Heidi Wilkinson (Head of Props). They are supported by Geoff Jones (Production Stage Manager), Yvonne Yip (Assistant Stage Manager) and Caroline Tang (Apprentice Stage Manager).

SPECIAL EVENTS for Much Ado About Nothing include:

  • The crowd-pleasing Bard Fireworks Nights, where patrons enjoy a performance of Much Ado About Nothing followed by a dessert buffet, and guaranteed, spectacular views of the Celebration of Light. Fireworks evenings are July 19 & 26. Bring your own picnic supper, preorder from us (for an extra charge), or snack the night away—the choice is yours.
  • Two matinee performances are designated Family Days, encouraging a new generation of young theatre patrons to discover Shakespeare and the Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park festival experience. Special pricing and kids’ activities are in effect July 13 & August 17 at 2pm.
  • Patrons seeking a less structured experience are invited to join us for a Relaxed Performance of Much Ado about Nothing. June 29 at 2pm. This performance is also “Pay What You Will”.
  • Discover more about Bard’s production from the cast during Talkback Tuesdays in July and August, where performers will take part in free post-show discussions.

Ticket prices for all regular play performances start at $35 CAD and are available now. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection, as many performances sell out in advance. The full performance schedule and event details are on the Bard website at bardonthebeach.org. To book tickets, order online through the Bard website or call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.

Bard on the Beach gratefully acknowledges the corporate sponsors and donors who support and sustain the Festival and its programs. Sponsors include BMO (BMO Mainstage) along with Production Sponsors Lawson Lundell LLP (Much Ado About Nothing), Odlum Brown (The Two Gentlemen of Verona), and Polygon Homes (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]). Season Media Sponsors include the Vancouver Sun and Global BC, as well as many other valued sponsors and partners. Bard also thanks the City of Vancouver Cultural Services Department, the Vancouver Park Board, the Province of British Columbia, the BC Arts Council, Canadian Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continuing support.

About Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Established in 1990, Bard’s mission is to create transformational experiences through exceptional theatre, training and education opportunities that inspire, resonate, and promote the exchange of ideas. As well as its annual summer Festival, Bard offers year-round education and training programs for youth, adults, and theatre professionals in its administrative home at the BMO Theatre Centre in Olympic Village as well as in schools and community facilities throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

-30-

A selection of photographs for media use is available on the Bard Press Centre. Please contact Cynnamon Schreinert for password access or interviews.
Tel: 604-802-2733; email: [email protected]