As the mist rolled in to English Bay on Saturday evening, the actors of Twelfth Night donned their costumes for one last time and took to the stage for the final performance of the season. The packed house was treated not only to a phenomenal final performance, but a very special celebration afterwards – a long standing, closing night tradition where we give onstage recognition to the people who work to make Bard such a special place. Hundreds of volunteers, administrative staff, backstage and site crew, security, front of house leaders, box office agents, donors, Members, the gifted cast, designers and directors and you, our audience, all come together to make Bard on the Beach happen year after year.

The Bard 2013 cast, crew, volunteers and administration on stage for the closing of the season

Our fearless leader, Christopher Gaze shared his thanks with everyone (thank YOU Christopher!) and also gave a special acknowledgement to friend and colleague John McCulloch, who made a transition this year from Chair of Bard’s Board of Directors to the role of Managing Director, setting the tone for a very exciting future! Speaking of the future… you might be wondering what’s next? Christopher announced the 2014 season much to the delight of the closing night crowd and we’re excited to announce it here too! Next year’s 25th Anniversary season includes (drum roll)…

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Dean Paul Gibson and The Tempest, staged by Meg Roe on the BMO Mainstage. These silver anniversary season presentations will be re-imaginings of Gibson and Roe’s hugely successful 2006 and 2008 productions, cast with a mix of familiar and new faces and bringing back the magic of those two remarkable runs. On the Douglas Campbell Studio Stage, Bard will present a bold, physical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, performed by six actors and directed by Anita Rochon. Alternating with Cymbeline is Equivocation, a co-production with Victoria’s Belfry Theatre, written by contemporary playwright Bill Cain and directed by the Belfry’s Artistic Director Michael Shamata.

We hope you enjoyed our 2013 season as much as we enjoyed putting it on for you. We can’t wait to do it all again next year for our very special 25th Anniversary!