Each year, Bard on the Beach engages hundreds of incredible artists, technicians, volunteers, and administrators who work on-stage and behind the scenes to make our Festival possible. Over the next few weeks, our Bard Debut Series will be highlighting some of the members of our Bard community joining us for their first Season this summer. If you missed last week’s blog post on our Acting Company, check it out here!
This week, we’re excited to introduce you to our incredible Creative Team. In today’s Bard Blog post, meet some of the incredible artists working behind the scenes to help our Season come to life!
Jordan Chambers
The Comedy of Errors: Assistant Costume Designer
What has your first Bard experience been like so far?
It’s been fantastic! Getting to see how the company operates on the scale that it does was extremely eye-opening. The collaborative atmosphere in the costume shop made every day fun and bringing so many colourful costumes from a sketch to a full outfit filled me with pride for the whole team and my part in it. Every step of the process brought a new challenge, lesson, and sense of satisfaction.
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
Summer is the perfect time to get inspired, especially for a costumer. I love people watching and between previews, openings, community dances, sports games, and Pride events, I’ve had a veritable feast for the eyes! The Lower Mainland is so lush with a diverse population and every person’s unique sense of what looks and feels good gets to shine in the sun. It’s hard not to feel inspired by the community around me.
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Starlynn Chen
Twelfth Night: Apprentice Costume Designer
What has your first Bard experience been like so far?
My first Bard experience has been absolutely wonderful! The collaborative and supportive team has made me feel incredibly welcomed. As I head into my final term at Studio 58, the costume shop at Bard provides a fantastic environment for me to learn and grow as an emerging artist. I’m beyond grateful!
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
Movies and series, museums, galleries, and nature! I also enjoy sitting on a bus and just looking through the window, noticing the city’s architecture, the clouds, the trees, people, the clothes they are wearing, and more.
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Victoria McNeil
Twelfth Night: Assistant Sound Designer
What has your first Bard experience been like so far?
As a recent UBC Theatre graduate, I feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to work on Twelfth Night. I had sound designed various shows during my time at UBC, but working for Bard is the first time I’ve been a part of a production at this big of a scale. Being at Bard makes me feel inspired by all the talent and the fun everyone is having around me and it makes me want to continue growing as an artist myself!
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
Since the start of the summer, I’ve been able to dedicate a lot more of my time to reading, and whether I read non-fiction, fiction, or something else, I always find myself inspired by the way people tell stories—which makes me want to go about creating something of my own! I also spend a lot of time finding new music to listen to, which makes me motivated to expand my knowledge of sound design/composition.
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Harlow Nguyen
Twelfth Night and Hamlet: Apprentice Stage Manager
What has your Bard experience been like so far?
It’s been so lovely! Everyone has been so welcoming and it’s clear there are years of culture imbedded in Bard. Hamlet and Twelfth Night are my first productions after university, and everyone’s patience and willingness to teach me solidified that this is the industry I’m meant to be in.
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
In the beautiful view we have on site. Nothing is better than people-watching in the garden and realizing everyone is just living their lives in the sunshine.
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Stephen Drover
Hamlet: Director
What has your first Bard directorial experience been like so far?
My Bard directorial debut has been a remarkable mix of familiar and new. I’ve been involved in two Bard shows as dramaturg, I’ve watched the productions for over 20 years, and have worked with many of these artists before. But I’ve never assumed the responsibility of steering one of the productions. It’s been a truly rewarding, warm, meaningful, and delightful experience.
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
Shakespeare in a Divided America by James Shapiro. It’s a few years old now and took as its inspiration the 2016 election of Donald Trump. The book proposes that Shakespeare’s practice of equally presenting both sides of an argument reflects an insistence that democracy depends on the expression of competing viewpoints. It’s a fascinating read in light of the US election developments.
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Halley Fulford
Measure for Measure: Assistant Costume Designer
What has your first Bard experience been like so far?
Working this Season at Bard has been phenomenal. The energy and support for the creative process is invigorating. I experienced a team of people who were talented, passionate, and curious and it made every day rewarding. What a great opportunity to learn and grow as an artist while being offered the respect and trust to fully utilize my strengths.
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
Much in the world at the moment is antithetical to my sense of justice and it’s difficult for waves of inspiration to carry me very far. I’ve been finding joy by sewing outfits for my niece who just turned five, soothing an outbreak of powdery mildew that’s trying to establish itself in my garden, and biking around the city with my partner. I’ve been mulling over the work that we did this Season and continuing to think about the role of storytelling in establishing identity, community, and, somewhat conversely, openness.
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Emily Dotson
The Comedy of Errors and Measure for Measure: Assistant Set Designer
What has your Bard experience been like so far?
My first Bard experience was, as we say, bardcore! I made a lot of great friends and connections this Season. Truly the friendliest company I’ve ever been a part of. Working on two comedies also made the work so fun and silly every day.
Where have you been finding inspiration lately?
I’m having an artistic renaissance if you will. I’ve recently fallen back in love with theatre, and am truly inspired by the art form itself. I’m trying my hand in all areas of theatre, not just set design. I’m writing my first play, applying to direct a few projects, and am painting en plein air in Paris.
Thanks so much to our Creative Team for taking the time to chat with us today! It’s been wonderful to see your creativity and hard work shine so brilliantly on stage.
If you haven’t already, be sure to see their incredible work for yourself at the Festival! Our 2024 Season runs to September 21. Buy your tickets now by visiting our Season Schedule!