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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!

With just over a week to go until we open our 26^th Season, things are in full swing down in Vanier Park. If you’ve been in the area lately, you’ve likely seen our signature red and white tents popping up in preparation. It takes a whole team of people to put the Festival together, and many months of work are involved to create the finished product that you see when you come to enjoy our productions.

William Shakespeare would have been 451 this year, which is cause enough for celebration. We wouldn’t be who we are without him, so his birthday is an occasion we dearly love! We’ll be celebrating at the Fairmont Pacific Rim at Bill’s Birthday Breakfast, kicking off the season with Bard on the Beach supporters. Stage your own celebration with some of our favourite ways to mark Shakespeare’s birthday.

Excitement flooded the theatre community today when Bard on the Beach unveiled its plans to construct a new stage in the Burrard Inlet. Now in its 26th year, the Shakespeare Festival has become an iconic summer tradition, bringing in a record 100,000 patrons over its 2014 season. Rising attendance has indicated a need for expansion but the site, bounded by water on two sides, is limited by its geographical location.

“At first we joked about it,” laughs Artistic Director Christopher Gaze. “We’d say the only place to expand was to go into the water – literally!”

Shakespeare’s plays can be seen performed around the world, and there are so many different interpretations of his work – that’s part of what makes his plays so enjoyable! At Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival we’ve been known to have some new interpretations of our own, and this season, Scott Bellis will be directing a reimagining* of his successful production of The Comedy of Errors done in steampunk style. What is steampunk, you ask?

With Valentine’s Day approaching, we’re starting to feel the love in the air (and we may have already indulged in the chocolate that comes along with it). This rainy weather has us daydreaming about the summer months and the thrill of a new season at Bard on the Beach. From experience, we know that a trip to a tent in the park can be the perfect opportunity for romance.

Here are eight reasons to bring that special someone to Bard…

Even though the festival runs during the summer months, the preparation for a season begins as soon as one ends. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival admin staff are on duty year round, piecing together every part of what makes an enjoyable summer for our patrons, new and experienced!

It’s been another fun season in the Bard Box Office! Here are some of the err… interesting things that were overheard.

Patron: “I have tried buying tickets online but can’t seem to book in dates. That’s nothing unusual as I have been known to order a hamster on line before when I really wanted a hamper!”

Patron: “I think the internet is broken.”
Box Office: “Which browser are you using?”
Patron: “Desktop.”

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!