Everyone knows Beatrice and Benedick become Shakespeare’s favourite combative almost-lovers. But what happened the first time they fell for each other?

Full Circle Theatre invites you into Regency Britaly with They Say, a brand-new romantic comedy inspired by the characters of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. (Yes, that is a portmanteau of “Britain” and “Italy”)

A wedding has brought Messina’s most eligible - and least interested - bachelors together under one roof. Queen Annabella is determined to find her son a wife. Hero has decided she cannot marry until Beatrice does. Beatrice would prefer everyone stop discussing her future entirely. And Benedick, unfortunately, believes he understands women.

Then a mysterious gossip writer calling herself Lady Goodword begins publishing everyone’s secrets.

As rumours spread and private choices become public entertainment, Beatrice and Benedick strike a dangerous little bargain. He will teach her how to attract a husband. She will prove that love and marriage are not nearly as simple as he thinks. Neither of them expects the lessons to become quite so convincing.

Inspired by Bridgerton, Gossip Girl, and a tantalizing stage direction in the quarto, They Say imagines the relationships, scandals, and heartbreaks that helped create the people we eventually meet in Much Ado About Nothing.

It is witty, romantic, sexy, and just dangerous enough… a story about who tells a story, who takes on that same story, and how quickly good intentions can become very public disasters.

Expect sharp banter, complicated friendships, secret desires, questionable matchmaking, sexy swordplay, Regency yearning, and Full Circle’s signature blend of irreverent comedy and sneaky emotional damage.