Auditions
CASTING AT BARD ON THE BEACH
Casting at Bard on the Beach is a challenging undertaking. We look for skilled artists who have a facility with classical text, are multi-faceted with an ability to inhabit a variety of characters, have a rigorous work ethic, and are collaborative company members. On each of our two stages, we typically produce two repertory productions that share a cast.
Bard on the Beach’s season runs from late June to the end of September, with rehearsals starting in early April. The casting process for each season begins over a year in advance with General Auditions. General Auditions are held annually between January–March, the primary purpose of which is to introduce the Artistic team to new talent. Postings for the General Auditions typically go out in late December/early January. They are posted on our website and social media, as well as in the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association’s E-drive.
Season casting then starts in earnest in the summer months, with specific casting auditions taking place in late summer/early fall. These are often by invitation only to artists of interest, either previously known to the artistic team and casting committees or introduced to them at the earlier General Auditions. From time to time, open audition calls are sent out for specific parts in the season as well.
It is often a long process to finalize casting as there are many factors that need to be considered. Every decision has a number of consequences in the grand casting puzzle of the season, and it’s never an easy task to fit our rep shows together as well as ensure we are able to provide understudy coverage for all roles. Casting is generally completed by the end of December for the coming season.
ETHNOCULTURAL MANDATE OR CASTING STATEMENT
Bard is committed to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion. It is our deeply-held belief that all three must be embedded in everything we do. We are a Shakespeare Festival whose performance venue is located on Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park, the site of a vibrant Coast Salish village which was the home of Indigenous nations for thousands of years. We take our responsibility as occupants of this space seriously.
At Bard we welcome people of all races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities and disabilities. In our office and work spaces, gathering places, stage, rehearsal halls and backstages, we are working towards addressing and combatting racism (including but not limited to anti-Indigeneity, anti-Blackness, and anti-Asianness), religious discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia and transphobia, sexism and misogyny, and ableism. The responsibility to create and maintain this inclusive, accessible, and anti-oppressive environment is shared by all Bard company members, regardless of seniority, job title, or relationship to the company.
We are not currently accepting applications for auditions. Thank you for your interest!