With the curtains now closed on our 2024 Season, the work of bringing our newly announced 2025 Season to life begins. However, none of this would be possible without the incredible support of our Bard Members, many of whom have committed to making monthly contributions which directly support the Festival’s vitality. 

All donations made to Bard on the Beach go toward ensuring we can continue to offer magical theatre experiences through our Festival and Bard Education programming—and the sustainable, ongoing support that our monthly donors provide means that we can plan more confidently for the future of the Festival. 

In today’s Bard Blog, we had a chance to catch up with Members Brenna Britton, Terri Jelic, and Marlie Oden to learn more about them and what inspired them to become monthly donors. Plus, read on until the end to learn more about our exclusive Member benefits and how you can become a Member today! 

Brenna Britton, Bard Member

What was your first introduction to Bard on the Beach? 
I first attended Bard in 2002 to see Twelfth Night with Alessandro Juliani as Feste (it was the matinee performance on July 21, to be precise, with a Youth ticket price of $16). It was a remarkable production, with many actors I would go on to see Season after Season. I was studying English at SFU at the time and had some incredible teachers in high school and university that helped me fall in love with theatre and Shakespeare, including Bard favourite Dr. Paul Budra. But as much as I love sinking into the text of a play, Shakespeare is meant to performed, and Bard on the Beach offers world-class productions in a beautiful setting right in our own backyard. 

Bard was one of the reasons I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Shakespeare in the UK. In the decades since, I’ve been fortunate to see Shakespeare productions in Canada, the US, and the UK, in multiple languages, but Bard on the Beach remains my favourite company in the world. 

What inspired you to become a monthly donor?
Upon graduating and returning to Canada, I began volunteering with Bard in 2006. This was back in the days before the new tents, with patrons queuing for general admission and the patchwork vests the volunteers wore, made from [Costume Designer] Mara Gottler’s fabric scraps. I loved welcoming folks and handing out colourful paper for nametags and directing traffic in the port-a-potties during intermissions. I even volunteered in the off-season at Bard’s main office.

Brenna with another Bard Volunteer on site in 2006.

After a few years, a new job precluded me from volunteering. I still wanted to support Bard, so I became a Member in 2008 and have continued ever since. The option for monthly donations makes it easier for me to budget, and I know how important predictable, steady cash flow is to an organization like Bard. The Festival happens in the summer, but the work to make that magic happen continues year-round, and so does my support.

What motivates you to continue supporting Bard on the Beach? 
Theatre is one of my greatest joys, and I want as many people as possible to have that experience. Shakespeare isn’t boring or snobbish; his plays are vibrant and raunchy and heartrending and hilarious. They are flexible, able to stretch and adapt and speak to us in our time. Bard on the Beach consistently creates bold, thoughtful productions with world-class talent on the stage and behind the scenes. In a world where theatre is always at risk of becoming the preserve of rich patrons, I love supporting Bard’s mission of accessibility, welcoming everyone into its tents. Its youth and education programs, as well as its commitment to apprenticeships, help build the next generation of theatre lovers and makers. Bard is, for me, a family, and a beloved ritual that I am so proud to play a small part in and share with everyone. 

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Terri Jelic, Bard Member and Volunteer 

What was your first introduction to Bard on the Beach? 
My daughter and I attended a performance of The Merchant of Venice in the Studio Stage in 2003 and Macbeth in 2004. That year my good friend started to volunteer at Bard and she said it was a great volunteer program. I started volunteering in 2005 and that year worked with Joy Gaze at Audience Services. The stories she told were amazing, so I became a Member. 

What inspired you to become a monthly donor? 
They were testing to see if monthly donations would work on the system and I volunteered to donate monthly to ensure their systems worked through the annual cycle.  I just kept going with it, gradually increasing my level as I was able. 

What motivates you to continue supporting Bard on the Beach? 
Bard on the Beach productions are a constant source of amazement for me. I like the traditional versions of Shakespeare’s plays once in a while, but seeing Shakespeare as a spaghetti western, or with a Beatles soundtrack, or watching a tempest envelope a stage using a ship made of rope showcases imagination and talent worth supporting.

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Marlie Oden, Bard Member and Former Board Member 

What was your first introduction to Bard on the Beach? 
My first introduction to Bard on the Beach was about 30 years ago, when I attended one of their performances. I had heard Christopher Gaze speak at an event (Vancouver AM, I believe). So off we went to a performance. I was immediately captivated by how they brought Shakespeare’s plays to life, with stunning backdrops, talented actors, and an open-air setting that added a unique charm. That initial experience left a lasting impression on me, and I knew I had discovered something special. Our daughter attended their kids’ classes, which she loved. You might say Bard became a family tradition. 

What inspired you to become a monthly donor? 
I was inspired to become a monthly donor because I wanted to help ensure that Bard on the Beach continues to thrive and bring accessible, high-quality theatre to the community. Their dedication to both preserving Shakespeare’s work and making it relevant to contemporary audiences resonated with me. I felt compelled to contribute in a more consistent way to support their mission. Our family believes that arts and culture are the cornerstone of a vibrant and enriched community and Bard exemplifies the best of theatre and community. Monthly giving means I never have to think about the gift, and the commitment is made at the beginning of the year—easy. 

What motivates you to continue supporting Bard on the Beach? 
My ongoing support is motivated by the joy and enrichment Bard on the Beach brings to my life and the lives of others. I see its positive impact on the community, from educational programs to diverse productions, and I want to be part of sustaining that. Knowing that my contributions help foster creativity and keep the arts alive drives me to continue supporting this incredible organization.

Thanks so much to Brenna, Terri, and Marlie for chatting with us today! 

Interested in becoming a Bard Member? Bard Members receive exclusive benefits, like priority access to ticket booking and invitations to exclusive receptions and events like our Backstage Tour, which offer unique, behind-the-scenes views of our Season. For a full list of Bard Membership perks, visit our Bard Membership page. 

Plus, consider becoming a monthly donor! Not only do you support the Festival with stable, sustainable contributions, but you can also spread out your giving into smaller amounts throughout the year, making it easier than ever to become a Member. 

For more information, visit our Bard Membership page or contact Taylar Ball, Individual Giving Manager, at [email protected].