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Bard On the Beach Shakespeare Festival
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
601 Cambie StVancouver, BC V6B 2P1
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 737-0625
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Bard On the Beach Shakespeare Festival
12 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
We went to see Antony and Cleopatra on Friday night, and absolutely loved the show, the atmosphere and the laid back attitude!
It is truly a mark of humankind's appreciation for great art that a bunch of 400 year old plays can still draw large crowds and cause excitement, and I felt thrilled to be a part of it. Vanier Park is one of my favourite places in the world, and the tents set up with just a slice of the mountain view peeking through is one of the best locations I can imagine to stage the Bard's work.
Every detail, from the casting to the costumes, the music to the stage direction, was innovative and breathed new life into this infamous tale of two headstrong lovers. I absolutely loved the lead actors - they played their title characters with humour and passion.
Another bonus? You can bring in your own snacks and (in our case, Pinot Noir) and eat them on the grass before the show and during intermission.
***One Last Note: The line up procedure is a bit strange. Bext to get there an hour early, as they open the gate 40 minutes before the show. You are given a little sign with your name on it, and when you head in you affix the sign to your chosen seat and then you are free to walk around. The earlier you arrive in line, the better the seat. -
Review from Herman E.
1/22/2012
I want to give this more stars but I can't because of the venue. It can be hit or miss. I've been on rainy nights, windy nights, and cold nights. Some nights the grounds get really soggy and it's pretty disgusting to walk though. However, if the evening is nice and warm, it is a treat.
I do like the shows that they put on and I do like Shakespeare. However, I only take in the comedic and lighter productions. I'm not into the tragedies or the more serious plays. I will fall asleep and I snore loudly as is.Listed in: Hollywood North
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Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
6/8/2011
Only go if you can stand the rudeness of the
a) head ticket agent (not the others)
b) director (yes, I talked to him personally.) Totally clueless about his own seating arrangement.
c) some ushers who are on power trips and have no sense of seating. (not all of them).
The plays are fine if you can't get to NY, and obviously have a beautiful backdrop but the actual "volunteers" lack the professionalism of both the Arts Club and Playhouse. I have been going for at least seven years now.
While the performances are about a 3-4 (if you are honest with yourself about how much you enjoy Shakespeare), the staff gets worse every year. They leave the theatre with empty seats, don't sell the others when people are waiting, and then interrupt the play to seat latecomers. They turned my "friend" away with less than 5 minutes before the beginning and they had 24 empty seats left--I counted! :(
Any proper theatre company would not seat latecomers (in the wrong seats!) until intermission, thus disrupting the play.
If you are not in a group, you might not know this, so go at your own risk. But be forewarned.
Note-I enjoy Shakespeare well enough; I study many of his plays, actually. It's the organizers that ruin this entire event and make me like it less and less every year. Remember to bring a copy of the play if you can, or you will most certainly be lost! -
Review from Vincci L.
11/30/2009 2 photos
Shakespeare in a tent? Now this is a unique event. The beautiful backdrop of the mountains and English Bay; this is really making the most of Vancouver. I was first introduced to this by our English teacher back in high school. The Tempest. We were studying this in school, so it was the perfect oppurtunity to watch this live.
This takes place every summer in Vanier Park, showing 3 or 4 plays every year.
Taking place in one huge tent, it's general seating, so arrive early when going to weekend shows as seats fill up quickly. This is stadium style seating, with graduated rows. The stage is open, revealing one of Vancouver's best views. It's often cool in the tent, so bring a light jacket with you.
There's wine and coffee for refreshments, as well as light snacks such as cookies and popcorn.
The calibre of actors and direction is very well done.They bring life to the famous Shakespearean plays, sometimes making it more comical. Music accompanies the play, and costume are always elaborate and detailed.
Matinee shows are usually cheaper, but get tickets in advance, just in case.
It's become an annual summer event for me. My favourite so far, is Macbeth.
This is where culture and nature meet, the perfect fusion! -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
8/25/2010
Venue: 5 stars
Price: 4 stars
Show: (anthony and cleopatra) 2 stars...
BORED on the beach actually.. -
Review from Jenni B.
4/19/2009
Shakespear, beach, summer sun, BC wines... does life actually get any better than this?
This annual festival held in Vanier park is awesome for a weekend matinee or a night of entertainment. Holding three plays per year, the productions are phenomenial... you do not have a be a Bard Buff, so if you are the type that never really enjoyed reading Shakespear you will still be delighted by watching the plays performed. In fact, when you go you will see young children to elder adults enjoying the play. The actors are phenomenal, and this is a statement as Shakespearian acting is not an easy feat.
Of special note is the Bard during the fireworks, as well as for the wine tasting nights, both of which are completely worth checking out (make sure and buy early they sell out really fast!).
This year I am excited to see Othello and the Comedy of Errors! -
Review from Margaret R.
11/30/2009 1 photo
If you like watching Shakespearean plays, then you should for sure check this place out! It's awesome! You can even bring people who aren't into it because the plays are done so creatively that people who don't like / understand Shakespeare can still appreciate it.
The play is in a tent with a really well developed set. The plays are presented in a more modern way so that it is more rateable. After the play, the cast members come out and discuss the play in case you had any questions. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2008
The dome-like red and white tents in Vanier Park near the Burrard Street bridge are a staple of Vancouver summer.
Bard on the Beach makes a valiant effort to modernize its shows and provide a unique context for the Shakespearean texts. 2008's Titus Andronicus was a fantastic, if not fearsome, example of this.
The non-profit is coming up on its 20th season and puts up about four shows each summer. For first-timers, check out the main stage with its views of the water and mountains behind the actors. An occasional jet ski does provide an odd soundscape to The Taming of the Shrew or the like, but the shows are otherwise fantastic. -
Review from Darien C.
BC
12/12/2008
Wine and Shakespeare. Sheer perfection. Long time fan of the bard, seeing his work on stage still makes my spine tingle.
Bard on the Beach is the annual festival in Vanier Park. It's up there with my favourite part of summer, par with water and sun.
The festival sells out quickly and rightfully so. I caught MacBeth here one summer, my god, amazing. The tents have an open backdrop, the night sky is part of the set. As MacBeth and MacDuff squared off in the finale, I kid you not, a lightning storm brewed. Seeing bolts arch behind the sword fight is legendary, it could not have been better at the Globe.
As I write this I shiver in recollection. If you have any appreciation for the performing arts, then this is a must. Your pretentious inner child will thank you. -
Review from Suzanne P.
8/2/2009
I loved going to this festival.
We went on our first night in Vancouver. As a singer, I always feel like I should see more straight theater and I am SO glad that we were able to attend. We saw Richard II and loved every minute of it.
The ushers were so friendly! Ours struck up conversation with us immediately and was incredibly sweet. Also, I'm glad it was theater in the round too so that there weren't any "bad" seats. We didn't know about waiting in line to get into the festival but still managed to have great seats.
The caliber of the actors and their performances was incredibly high. Every single member of the cast was phenomenal and I enjoyed being transported completely. I was SOO impressed with every actor and was sad to not be able to see other shows during the festival. I hope to see more from this fantastic festival at some point. I highly recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in the performing arts. -
Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
9/1/2010
The highlight of my summer every year!
Some tips....
- Bring a picnic to eat while you wait in line. Or stop for sushi or burrito bros before you go. Quick & yummy!
- Make sure you have a blanket or a pashmina.... it gets chilly after the intermission.
- Don't bring young kids. They'll be bored.
- First Timer? See a comedy.
- Feeling lost? Be sure to grab a program. You can follow the story line in the program.
- Get the Bard Mix popcorn! Cheddar & caramel mixed together.... so good. I can't help myself & have to get it every time.
I can't wait for next summer! -
Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2008
Bard on the Beach is Vancouver's version of Shakespeare in the park, with the obvious twist that it is set up in Vanier park, near the beach. Each year, from May to September, this company puts on no fewer than four Shakespeare productions, often making the effort to put a more modern spin on the Bard's own work. This is definitely one of Vancouver's more labour intensive and impressive cultural offerings, and it is definitely worth checking out at least one of the shows. Bard on the Beach also teams up with other artists and companies to offer a fuller range of programming, so you might, for example catch some choral music along with your tragedy...or comedy.
