Category Actor

Ben Elliott is a man of many talents. Not only has he acted with us for five seasons, but once again, he has taken on the role of Musical Director – this time for Daryl Cloran’s adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost.

If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you won’t want to miss this season’s production of King Lear. As a co-production with Theatre Calgary, the Company is comprised of the best of the best from Vancouver, Calgary and beyond. While you’ll likely recognize Bard favourites such as Colleen Wheeler and Jennifer Lines, there are some new faces on the BMO Mainstage, including Nathan Schmidt.

This season we’re lucky to have a fantastic Company of actors, both returning and new. Bard is a unique experience for any actor, as both casts perform two shows at the same time – not to mention it all happens to be outside in a tent!

For her final assignment we sent UBC co-op student Shannon Hogan down to the Festival to interview actor John Voth to find more about his ‘amazing summer’ debuting at Bard. Here is their interview!

Shannon Hogan: So this is your first season at Bard on the Beach. Is it what you expected?

It’s been over two months since a dramatic storm blew into Vancouver causing a shipwreck on the shores of Vanier Park. We sent our roving island reporter Tempestuous Tracey to interview two of the survivors, party dames Trincula and Stephana, to see how they’ve been occupying their time on the island.

Tempestuous Tracey: Hey ladies!

Trincula: Hello!

Stephana: Hello, Hi!

Do you have someone in your life who inspired you to follow your passions? Adele Noronha, who is making her Bard acting debut this season in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest, did. We asked Adele to share her story with us…

Following his recent Jessie Award, Best Actor win for Realwheels’ Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Bob Frazer returns to Bard in a very different role playing William Shakespeare in Bill Cain’s Equivocation. We caught up with Bob to get his thoughts on the play and why he thinks it will stay with you long after you’ve left the theatre.

What’s it like to play Shakespeare after playing so many of his characters?

How does an actor prepare for his or her role? Good question! Every year at Bard our Company of actors spend three days with Director of Education & Training Mary Hartman and Vocal Coach Alison Matthews, exploring text and voice at our Actor Intensives. As Equivocation by Bill Cain opens first at the Belfry Theatre on April 22, the Studio Stage actors got a head start on the work this week.