Bob Frazer in Equivocation at Bard on the Beach

Tickets are now on sale for Bard on the Beach’s 25th anniversary season in Vanier Park. Vancouver’s signature summer theatre festival returns to its seaside home from June 11 to September 20.
 
“We are very excited to celebrate our 25 years of bringing Shakespeare to life in Vancouver”, said Bard Artistic Director Christopher Gaze. “To salute that legacy, we are revisiting two productions that our audiences truly loved. It is our birthday gift to Vancouver as we and the rest of the world celebrate the 450th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s birth. I’m proud and confident that it will be a landmark season.”

In honour of the 25th year anniversary, Bard on the Beach will bring back two audience favourites to the BMO Mainstage with the re-imagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Dean Paul Gibson (Bard Associate Artistic Director) and The Tempest, directed by Meg Roe.

On the Douglas Campbell Studio Stage, Bard will present a bold, physical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, performed by a six-actor ensemble and directed by Anita Rochon (Chop Theatre). Alternating with Cymbeline is Equivocation, written by playwright Bill Cain and directed by Belfry Theatre’s (Victoria, BC) Artistic Director Michael Shamata (in a Belfry co-production).
 
There’s also an exciting lineup of 25th anniversary special events — great opportunities to come back to Bard on the Beach for the hundreds of thousands of people, both artists and patrons, who’ve created the Festival’s exceptional history together. 

Scott Bellis in Midsummer Night Dream
[Scott Bellis in Bard on the Beach’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream]
 
Performance dates and special events for 2014:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: June 11 to September 20 (BMO Mainstage); Opening Night, June 21
The Tempest: June 12 to September 18 (BMO Mainstage); Opening Night, June 27
Equivocation: July 2 to September 19 (Douglas Campbell Studio Stage); Opening Night, July 10
Cymbeline: July 4 to September 17 (Douglas Campbell Studio Stage); Opening Night, July 13

Gazing Back: Reflecting on 25 Years at Bard: July 14, 28, August 11, September 9, 12, 7:30 pm
Join Christopher Gaze as he recalls highlights, hiccups, and some well-kept secrets from Bard’s fascinating 25-year history. Each show includes special guests.

Bard Explored: Lecture Series: Saturdays, 11:30 am; Mondays, 7:30 pm (two lectures per play)
Visit website for topics

Chor Leoni: Manely #1’s: June 23, 30, 3 and 8 pm
Pop hits, Broadway show-tunes and more in a musical celebration of the number 1

EnChor Choir: In the Gloaming: July 7, 7:30pm
A musical salute to summer campfire sing-a-longs, suitable for the whole family

Bard-B-Q & Fireworks: July 26, 30, August 2, 4:30pm
Play plus salmon barbecue, post-dinner entertainment and fireworks viewing

Celebrating Red & White: August 16, 5pm
BC VQA wine tasting between matinee and evening play performances

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: Mozart @ Bard! July 21, 7:30pm
Gordon Gerrard conducts the VSO on the BMO Mainstage

Opera & Arias: August 25, September 1, 2 and 7:30 pm
The UBC Opera Ensemble with members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra present an evening of Shakespeare-inspired opera favourites by Berlioz, Bellini, Gounod, Verdi, and more

Bard, Beer & Pretzels! September 8, 5 pm
A sampling of toast-worthy ales in the Bard Village, paired with artisan-baked pretzels

Fight Night: Academie Duello: September, 7:30 pm
A thrilling night of swords and words, featuring three top fight choreographers

Will Shakespeare’s ImprovMusical: September 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 7:30 pm
A completely-improvised musical theatre presentation based on the plots and language of William Shakespeare | A 2012 Vancouver Fringe Festival hit!
 
Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s largest professional Shakespeare company, its productions staged in modern open-ended tents on the waterfront against a stunning backdrop of mountains, sea, and sky. Play performances run Tuesdays through Sundays with (new this year) all evening performances starting at 7:30 pm. Matinees are presented on selected weekends and weekdays.
 
Play ticket prices (adults) include all fees and taxes and are $47 (evenings) and $33 to $35 (previews, matinees, and long weekend evenings) with a $27 Global BC Youth Rate (6 to 25 years, all play performances). Early Bird regular adult tickets are priced at $43 to May 30. Prices for special events, groups, and multi-play ticket package discounts can be found on the Bard website.

Early booking is recommended for best seat selection (all seats reserved) — many performances sell out in advance. Photos by David and Emily Cooper.

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