The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] | Bard on the Beach | Douglas Campbell Theatre | July 1 – September 20, 2025 “Attention Bard staff: code red. There is a goose behind the concession.” As we take our seats, the audience listens to staff trying to manage a goose incident over their radios. “Attention Bard staff: code green. The goose has been dispatched.” This is the perfect show for Bard regulars who can snicker at all the inside jokes, peer at props from past performances, and laugh at Christopher Gaze’s hilarious audio diary. A panel of
Category: Theatre
The Dark Lady cleverly illuminates a theory about Shakespeare’s creative partnership with Emilia Bassano
The Dark Lady | Bard on the Beach | Douglas Campbell Theatre | July 3 – September 19, 2025 “It smells like what knowledge should smell like,” says Emilia Bassano as she holds a book up to her nose. Emilia is a strong contender to be the infamous ‘dark lady’ referred to in Shakespeare’s sonnets. This story imagines them as lovers and creative partners. They are both passionate about the arts, poetry, and each other. Jessica B. Hill’s writing is quick-witted and full of smart references. This is the kind of play that would be worth reading to take it all
Two Gentlemen of the 1980s: Nostalgia and pop culture references at Bard on the Beach
The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Bard on the Beach | BMO Mainstage | June 13 – September 19 Mullets, 80s music, and a dog…in a Shakespeare play? This unconventional production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona directed by Dean Paul Gibson is infused with nostalgia and fun; it’s going to be Bard’s hit of the summer. Right off the top, we’re thrust into a 1980s mood with rousing music, colourful lights, and dancing. The fun continues with references and soundtracks from classic 80s movies sprinkled throughout, including the iconic “Oh Yeah” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Carmen Alatorre’s costume design firmly
Comedy gold and a revised ending in Bard on the Beach’s Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing | Bard on the Beach | BMO Mainstage | June 10 – September 20, 2025 The transformative power of love is on full display in this new staging of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Johnna Wright. Additional text by Erin Sheilds is seamlessly added in a final scene to provide a modern ending that more realistically aligns with today’s values. Jennifer Lines is back as the smart and stubborn Beatrice, engaging in a “merry war” of banter with Benedick (Sheldon Elter). Lines’ sunny smile and breezy delivery add a certain lightness to the role and to
The Golden Girls are back and bolder than ever
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue | Murray & Peter Present | Vancouver Playhouse | November 12 – 16, 2024 They’re pals. They’re confidantes. They’re not afraid to tell it like it is. If the Golden Girls were still around, what would they be doing in 2024? In Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue, we spend a hilarious evening with four of Florida’s most famous seniors as they navigate online dating and Sophia’s new status as the “El Chapo of Shady Pines.” Stunning tribute performances, physical comedy, and cheeky writing make for an extremely entertaining show. I was only a few
Follow the music: The Tempest Project leads audiences on a journey of discovery
The Tempest Project presented by Music on Main July 17 – 22, 2024 | The Vancouver Playhouse On an island full of magic and intrigue, the characters of Shakespeare’s The Tempest are on a journey of discovery — of the island itself, and of themselves. Audiences that arrive at The Vancouver Playhouse for The Tempest Project will find themselves in a similar position. Although the venue may be familiar, the way in which it’s used for this production is anything but. After choosing one of six colour-coded adventures, groups of up to twenty audience members follow the corresponding glowing wand