Much ado about plays: Where to see a Shakespeare performance in Virginia

This is no midsummer night’s dream—Shakespeare performances are alive and well in Virginia, and we’ve got the top places to catch a show.

To be or not to be? That is the question, and we can’t help with that one. To see or not to see? Now, that’s more our expertise. If you’re looking for a fun spot to watch a William Shakespeare play in Virginia, you’ve got options—including a performance venue designed after the bard’s famous Globe Theatre. 

Blackfriars Playhouse

Location: 10 S. Market St, Staunton, VA 24401

When you walk through the doors of the Blackfriars Playhouse, you might feel like you’ve transported to the early 1600s. Home to the American Shakespeare Center, the space is the world’s only recreation of the playwright and poet’s Globe Theatre.

The original Globe structure burned down during the Great Fire of London in 1666. About 335 years later, late Richmond architect Tom McLaughlin drafted a design for a similar playhouse in Staunton. Nowadays, the Blackfriars Playhouse hosts not only Shakespeare plays, but a host of other performances as well.

Shakespeare at the Ruins

Location: Mansion Rd, Barboursville, VA 22923

While Shakespeare’s tragedies often take the stage, the bard also wrote several comedic shows. One of those, The Comedy of Errors, explores classic slapstick humor due to a case of mistaken identity when two unbeknownst twin brothers end up at the same place at the same time. 

Nonprofit theatre company Four County Players of Central Virginia will bring the performance to life at the Barboursville Ruins, location courtesy of Barboursville Vineyards. The play has dates scheduled through July 27, and more information is available here.

Shakespeare Opera Theatre

Locations: Grace Episcopal Church (6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198) and St. Thomas Episcopal Church (8991 Brook Rd, McLean, VA 22102)

If you’ve ever thought, “You know what Shakespeare needs? Music,” then you’re in luck. The Shakespeare Opera Theatre specializes in classical theatre and classical music, and is often described as a “classical mash-up.”

If you’re wanting to experience Macbeth in McLean this month, you’ll need to acquire your tickets pretty quickly; the show runs through July 14 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. But fear not, there’s another opportunity to see the performance about 45 minutes away at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains; those performances are scheduled for July 20 and 21. For ticketing information, click here. 

Richmond Shakespeare Festival

Location: 4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA 23221 

Okay, okay, technically the upcoming show isn’t a Shakespeare performance, but the Richmond Shakespeare Festival has its fair share of the bard’s performances each year. While Much Ado About Nothing ran through June, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe is taking center stage through July 21.

Memberships for the 26th season of the Richmond Shakespeare theatre group’s performances are on sale now. Shows include Lord of the Flies, The Father: A Tragic Farce, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cyrano De Bergerac, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Reduced Shakespeare Company 

Locations: Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston) and James Madison University (147 Warsaw Ave, Harrisonburg, VA 22801)

Get ready to see Shakespeare like you’ve never seen him before: In a matter of minutes. Known for its fast-paced performance style, the Reduced Shakespeare Company often performs Shakespeare’s plays in a drastically shorter timespan than the bard intended, hitting the highlights and scrapping all the rest.

Currently on tour, the troop will perform at the Reston Community Center on Oct. 4 and 5, and at James Madison University on Apr. 16, 2025. Ticketing information is available here.