Category General

We love to receive feedback at Bard on the Beach and one consistent note from patrons last season was that from certain parts of the house in our new and bigger Mainstage Theatre tent, it could sometimes be difficult to hear the actors. One of the most iconic features of the Mainstage tent is its open back; sound can escape through it and that adds to the challenge of projecting voices, music and sound effects throughout the large space. So – a new custom designed sound system was needed.

Recently, one of our Box Office attendants Christine Quintana told me about a patron who asked – how did we create the advance photography for King John? Well, you fabulous anonymous patron, I’ll tell you – you use a trampoline!

Here are some outtakes from that photo shoot, shot by photographer David Cooper. Director Dean Paul Gibson worked with Lucas Gustafson (playing Arthur in King John) for over an hour and a half to get him warmed up and comfortable.

We are quite lucky to have many talented people here at Bard on the Beach. Many of the actors and staff members have all kinds of unique gifts. Recently, Studio Stage actor Aslam Husain (see above photo) – he plays Philip the Bastard in King John and Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor – created a promotional poster for King John using production photography.

Check it out below!

In case you missed them on Urban Rush – here are three terrific interviews with Bard company members. Including artistic director Christopher Gaze, Mainstage actor Bernard Cuffling and King John director Dean Paul Gibson.

Have you ever been to a Bard production and thought “wow, those costumes are gorgeous…do they rent them”?

This is great news for all you wonderful cyclists out there. On our Bard-B-Q & Fireworks nights, West Point Cyles – our official Bike to Bard sponsor – is offering a free bike valet! The first 200 patrons who arrive by bicycle will also receive a free gift courtesy of West Point Cycles.

The great thing about a Shakespearean production is that in many of them you can expect to see a truly great sword fight – especially in a tragedy. We love a good fight at Bard on the Beach – we try our best to keep it onstage.  Here’s a video of fight director Nicholas Harrison, explaining to the Vancouver Sun the joys and difficulties involved in staging a fight sequence for the theatre.

Nicholas Harrison, Bard on the Beach’s Firght Director made a great teaser trailer for Bard’s 2012 production of Macbeth. He made this with his iPhone! Check it out below.

Here’s the official trailer shot in HD by the terrific guys at Bombshelter Productions.
Edited by Sean Sullivan, camera work by Mike Mckinlay

We are extremely fortunate at Bard on the Beach to work with some truly amazing staff members who often go above and beyond to get the job done. Case in point: Sydney Cavanagh (Bard’s Head of Wardrobe) and Mara Gottler (BMO Mainstage Costume Designer) were looking for the perfect pair of men’s pants for the actors to wear in Macbeth. Sydney pulled about 100 different styles and cuts from various sources including many online sites.

Congratulations to all the Jessie nominees and winners! Mara Gottler took home the prize for Outstanding Costume Design for The Merchant of Venice (2011). Director Rachel Ditor was on hand to accept it on her behalf and thanked our head of wardrobe Sydney Cavanagh and all the fabulous men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes costuming at Bard. It was truly lovely.