Bard on the Beach, Canada’s largest professional Shakespeare Festival, is back in Vanier Park June 4-September 26. For 26 years, Vancouver patrons of the arts have turned up enthusiastically for this culture fest celebrating the genius of William Shakespeare with natural beauty of Vancouver as the backdrop. Tickets for Bard on the Beach went on sale April 8. Now is the time to book if you want the good seats.
Here are the highlights for the 2015 season, including details on the incredibly popular Canada Day Bard-B-Q and fireworks.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS begins the Festival’s summer long celebration of Shakespeare on the BMO Mainstage with hilarious confusion and Victorian steampunk style. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is directed by Bard Artistic Associate Scott Bellis. Also on the BMO Mainstage will be the timeless tragedy, KING LEAR, presented in collaboration with Theatre Calgary. The production features Benedict Campbell as King Lear and is directed by Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum.
On the Howard Family Stage, an adaptation of LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST will bring a 1920s Chicago feel to the intimate Douglas Campbell Theatre tent, complete with live jazz music. The production is directed by Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre. Joining LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST is the world stage premiere of SHAKESPEARE’S REBEL. It has been adapted by C.C. Humphreys from his best-selling novel of the same name and is directed by Bard on the Beach Artistic Director Christopher Gaze.
Play run dates and Special Events for 2015 are:
- The Comedy of Errors: June 4 – September 26 (BMO Mainstage) – Opening Night Saturday, June 13
- King Lear: June 18 – September 20 (BMO Mainstage) – Opening Night Thursday, June 25
- Love’s Labour’s Lost: June 19 – September 20 (Howard Family Stage) – Opening Night Friday, June 26
- Shakespeare’s Rebel: July 2 – September 19 (Howard Family Stage) – Opening Night Sunday, July 12
- Bard-B-Q & Fireworks: Saturday, July 25, Wednesday July 29 & Saturday, August 1 – includes a play, dinner, on-site entertainment & exclusive fireworks viewing. New start time: 5pm. Tickets from $95
- Chor Leoni: Manely Canadian: Mondays, June 22 & 29 @ 3pm & 8pm. Tickets $15 – $37
- Wine Wednesdays: July 15, August 12 & September 9 @ 6pm. $20 (must purchase play ticket for same evening).
- Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: Live At Bard: Mondays, July 13 & 20 @ 7:30pm
- Opera & Arias: Gilbert & Sullivan!: Mondays, August 24 & 31 @ 2pm & 7:30pm
- Discovering Shakespeare Talks: Saturdays, June 20 & 27, July 18* & August 8 @ 11:30am – a lively look at each play with Bard’s Education Director, Mary Hartman. (*guest lecturer: Shakespeare’s Rebel playwright C.C. Humphreys)
- Exploring Shakespeare Talks: Mondays, July 13 & 20, August 10* & 31 @ 7:30pm – delve deeper into each play with SFU’s Paul Budra. (*guest lecturer: Shakespeare’s Rebel playwright C.C. Humphreys)
- Family Nights at Bard: Tuesday, June 30 & Thursday, August 6 – family package pricing available
Last modified: April 17, 2015
