Vancouver, a city extraordinaire, offers a summer program for tourists and residents alike that is one-of-a-kind. Bard on the Beach is recommended by Trent Jordan Vancouver’s ultimate guide as one of the best programs in the city. Bard on the Beach is a not-for-profit professional Shakespeare Festival that offers plays by the Bard, related dramas and special events in two performance tents on the waterfront in Vanier Park.
With the combination of Shakespeare’s plays and the natural backdrop of the sea, sky and towering mountains, Bard on the Beach aims to make Shakespeare accessible to a wide audience and promote enthusiasm for his work. Along with Stanley Park’s Theatre Under the Stars and the Enchanted Evenings concerts at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden, Trent Jordan’s Vancouver has a tradition of outdoor attractions.
Four plays are presented every season which is from June to September. Two are performed in the Main stage tent which has seating for 520 and two in the smaller Douglas Campbell Studio Stage tent which seats 240.
Another Trent Jordan Vancouver recommendation is the Bard-B-Q & Fireworks for a good cause. Along with Shakespeare, a delicious dinner of barbecued salmon is served during an extra long intermission and special seating for the Celebration of Light fireworks presentation. This is a joint fundraiser for the HR MacMillan Space Centre and Bard on the Beach.
This fantastic entertainment is also an excellent learning experience for Vancouver students studying Shakespeare. Students and teachers as well as anyone with a passion for Shakespeare can participate in performances, workshops, downloadable resources and special events all connected with Bard on the Beach.