What was started in 1990 as a way to bring Shakespeare's plays to Vancouver has turned into an annual festival that attracts audiences from near and far. In its first year, Bard on the Beach (a not-for-profit organization) attracted 6,000 people, and since then it has grown considerably, now attracting over 90,000 people!
Bard Village in its entirety — Photo courtesy of Aerial Blimp Photography/Bard on the Beach
Each year two performance tents are erected in Vanier Park, where the stages are set, the seats are placed, and the actors take their mark to give audiences an entertaining, world class Shakespearean performance. The Mainstage tent is the newest addition (2011) and is an open air stage which allows you to enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean and mountains even as you take in the performances.
Opera & Arias — Photo courtesy of David Blue/Bard on the Beach
Bard on the Beach runs from June to September, making it a popular thing to do with kids (over the age of six) and teenagers that are on their summer holiday. This year they will be performing four different Shakespeare plays, including The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor and King John. Tickets for the plays can be purchased directly from their website. If you have a group of people going, it may be worth looking into their group rates, as you can save $5 per ticket on groups of 15 or more people.
Also, Granville Island is just a short distance away and is the perfect place to grab a bite pre or post show.
