Posted in 2015

This year for Giving Tuesday, Bard on the Beach has decided to raise funds for the Bard Education Bursary Fund. Director of Education, Mary Hartman, shared her thoughts on the importance of arts education and the relevance of Shakespeare even in a modern age. Read on for more…

Our patrons support Bard on the Beach in many different ways – from buying tickets, to volunteering, to becoming a Member. We are grateful that so many have made Bard a part of their lives.  A tangible way of supporting Bard is to dedicate a chair in one of our theatres, affixed with a plaque engraved with a special message on the selected chair.  Patrons choose to dedicate their chairs for many reasons – remembering a loved one, celebrating an anniversary or honouring a specific person.

This year marks my 10th season with Bard on the Beach education programs. I did my first Young Shakespeareans Workshop in 2005 when I was 12, taught by Andrew Wheeler. We performed Romeo and Juliet and I played the Nurse. I participated in 10 workshops over the next six years, until I aged out of the program.

The September long weekend has passed, but at Bard on the Beach, we’re still going strong. If you’ve missed some of our plays, or want to revisit a favourite, now is the time to act. The clock is ticking towards our last performances…

Here are three reasons why September is perfect for a trip to Bard:

1. Our four plays have been maturing all summer and are now at their peak – and even if you’ve seen them once, now is the time to come and savour them again!

   Read More about Top 3 Reasons for Bard in September!…

Ben Elliott is a man of many talents. Not only has he acted with us for five seasons, but once again, he has taken on the role of Musical Director – this time for Daryl Cloran’s adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost.

If you’ve visited us in Vanier Park before, you know that the Bard Boutique in the Village is home to a collection of unique items – Shakespearean themed and not – including beautiful handmade jewellery from local designers. New to the Bard Boutique this year is a line of jewellery from BuenoStyle.

If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you won’t want to miss this season’s production of King Lear. As a co-production with Theatre Calgary, the Company is comprised of the best of the best from Vancouver, Calgary and beyond. While you’ll likely recognize Bard favourites such as Colleen Wheeler and Jennifer Lines, there are some new faces on the BMO Mainstage, including Nathan Schmidt.

This season we’re lucky to have a fantastic Company of actors, both returning and new. Bard is a unique experience for any actor, as both casts perform two shows at the same time – not to mention it all happens to be outside in a tent!

With just over a week to go until we open our 26^th Season, things are in full swing down in Vanier Park. If you’ve been in the area lately, you’ve likely seen our signature red and white tents popping up in preparation. It takes a whole team of people to put the Festival together, and many months of work are involved to create the finished product that you see when you come to enjoy our productions.