Bard on the Beach, Vancouver's Shakespearean venue. Shakespeare while the sun sets over False creek held yearly throughout the summer in tents at Vanier park. It started out in 1990 with one tent and went to two tents about three years ago. This years performances include Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure, The Winters Tale and Troilus and Cressida. Artistic director Christopher Gaze hails from Tsawwasen where we used to live, though originally he is from the UK. He is the one who started Bard on the Beach in 1990 and it has grown from strength to strength.
The festival takes place from June through September in the two tents. The largest has 520 seats and the smaller 240 seats.
This year we went to Measure for Measure in the large tent on a Thursday night in late June and as usual it was great. The scene is always open at the back so you get to see the sun set while the play is being performed. We queue up (line-up) each year to get our tickets and then go into the tent and put little pieces of paper with our name on the seat we have chosen and then go outside and wander until the show is about to begin. At half time we usually go and get ourselves an ice-cream!
The little tent has either three or four performances a week. while the large tent has six performances a week. The artists who are performing are usually in two plays it seems, held on different nights of the week.
Besides these four plays there are other special events held here. Paul's favourite is always Chor Leoni which is held for just for two performances, spaced usually a week apart. Unfortuantely this year he left it too late to get tickets; he was a bit slow off the mark! It was fully booked and he didnt get to see it.
Another of the special events is Bard B-Q and Fireworks, worth going to as you get a great view of the fireworks from this location at Vanier park as well as a buffet in the extended intermission.
There is a special evening of Red and White Wine with a Shakespeare performance which has become an annual event.
There is also usually an evening of Opera each year.