Enjoying a picnic in Vanier Park; wandering through the Bard Village, or meeting up with friends and catching your favourite play; there are many reasons that bring people to Bard on the Beach and we love hearing all of them! Need more reasons? Here are 28!

Lois Anderson

Sereana Malani

Rachel Cairns

Richard Newman

Chris Cochrane

David Marr

Daniel Doheny

Robert Olguin

Bernard Cuffling

Susinn McFarlen

Bill Dow

Barbara Pollard

Benjamin Elliott

Luc Roderique

Craig Erickson

Todd Thomson

Dustin Freeland

Haig Sutherland

Duncan Fraser

Naomi Wright

Anton Lipovetsky

Andrew Wheeler

Jennifer Lines

Jonathon Young

David Mackay

Colleen Wheeler

Andrew McNee

Allan Zinyk

These names read like a who’s who of Vancouver theatre and, believe us, if you haven’t heard of some of these talented folks you’ll know all about them by the end of summer! This year’s cast members are in hot demand across Canada so we’re delighted that they’ve chosen to spend their summer with us. Many have performed in previous productions here at Bard so it’s going to be a good ol’ reunion for both the actors and the audience.

Jonathon Young in the role of Hamlet is sure to be a highlight this summer. While some of you may think this is Jonathon’s debut at Bard, he actually spent the summer of ‘97 playing Dumaine in Love’s Labour’s Lost and the Young Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. That same year Haig Sutherland made his Bard debut and he’ll be returning this summer to do double duty as the Friar in Measure For Measure and commanding the Queen’s attention as Ned Lowenscroft in Elizabeth Rex. Jonathon and Haig teamed up in Electric Company Theatre’s incredibly intimate, award-winning production of All the Way Home last year. For those of you lucky enough to share the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage (literally) with Haig and Jonathon last year, we don’t need to tell you what a treat you’re in for with these two gifted actors. Speaking of Queen Elizabeth, the fabulous Colleen Wheeler returns this season, transforming herself from Lady Macbeth (2012) into Queen Elizabeth I in Timothy Findley’s Elizabeth Rex and Mariana in Measure For Measure. Colleen stole the show earlier this year performing alongside Jonathon in the hilarious Arts Club Theatre production of Boeing-Boeing and spent time with Haig last October in Electric Company Theatre’s poetic Initiation Trilogy at a secret space on Granville Island. David Mackay, who directed both Colleen and Jonathon in Boeing-Boeing as well as several Bard productions, jumpsback into actor mode playing Cecil in Elizabeth Rex and Angelo in Measure For Measure. We’re excited to have him tread the boards again! Another Bard favourite we’re happy to welcome back after a two year absence is Jennifer Lines. Jennifer and David performed together in 2005 as Rosaline and Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost. This year Jennifer returns to play Hamlet’s one true friend Horatio in Hamlet, and Olivia in Twelfth Night.

Phew. These people are busy! Can you find any more artistic connections? Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Bard on the Beach this summer?

To find out more about our talented cast and crew, check out the plays on our website.