Bard Village at Bard on the Beach

Bard on the Beach is a very popular Shakespearean theatre festival in Vancouver. It normally takes place at Vanier Park from June until early autumn.

In 2025 the festival celebrates its 36th season. This year’s productions include the two comedies Much Ado About Nothing and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The two modern productions are the internationally-beloved The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and the Canadian play The Dark Lady.

This year’s shows run between June 10th and September 20th. Each of the four productions has a different schedule.

For the most up-to-date details, visit the bardonthebeach.org website.

The information in this article includes the following topics:

Click on any of the above links to jump to details on a specific topic, or see below for all information.

Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park

The Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival takes place in an outdoor tent theatre every year from early June until the end of September. It’s a world-class series of Shakespearean productions that has been going on for over 30 years.

If you like Shakespeare, then it’s a festival you won’t want to miss!

Bard on the Beach Venue

Bard on the Beach performances happen in the Bard Festival Site at Vanier Park in Kitsilano in two separate tent theatres. One is the 733-seat BMO Mainstage Theatre and the other is the smaller 240-seat Howard Family Theatre. Two productions take place in each theatre over the course of the summer, with the four shows alternating over different evenings.

Parking for the Bard is at the nearby H.R. MacMillan Space Centre at 1100 Chestnut Street. The cost there is about $7 (or at least it has been in past years) for the evening after 6:00 pm.

Click Bard on the Beach for the festival’s official website.

The Company of Twelfth Night (Photo by Tim Matheson)

2025 Bard Summer Program Lineup

The 2025 Bard on the Beach program features four plays – Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and The Dark Lady. Details about each of the plays are below.

For more details about the 2025 season, continue reading below or see the Bard on the Beach website.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Much Ado About Nothing is a Shakespearean comedy that features convoluted love plots and quick-witted, banter-filled laughs. In the show, two soldiers arrive in a city after a battle. One of them (Claudio) falls for a local girl (Hero) and declares that he intends to woo her. His friend (Benedick) scoffs at the thought of marriage and bickers with Hero’s cousin (Beatrice).

To stir up trouble, the evil Don John causes a rift between Claudio and Hero after they’ve fallen in love with each other. At the same time, other soldiers decide to have some fun by convincing Benedick and Beatrice that the other is madly in love with them. Plenty of hijinks ensue from there.

The show runs from June 10th to September 20th and is directed by Johnna Wright. It’s one of the two BMO Mainstage productions.

To learn more about this show visit the Bard on the Beach website.

THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is considered by some Shakespeare historians to be the first play he ever published. It also has the smallest cast of any Shakespeare play.

The show stars Proteus and Valentine, two young gentlemen from Verona who travel to Milan. Valentine, who arrives in the city first, falls in love with Silvia, the daughter of the local duke. Proteus also falls in love with her when he arrives, despite the fact that he already has a lover back home in Verona (Julia). Proteus connivingly gets Valentine banished from Milan so he can pursue Silvia himself, and his friend ends up becoming the leader of a nearby band of outlaws.

Meanwhile, Julia arrives at Milan, and disguises herself as a male servant hired by Proteus in order to spy on his advances towards Silvia. Silvia ends up running away from Proteus, who chases her along with Julia, and all three of them end up meeting Valentine’s band of outlaws in the woods. There, everyone’s truths come to light.

This production is the second that takes place on the BMO Mainstage. The show runs from June 13th to September 19th and is directed by Dean Paul Gibson.

To learn more about this show visit the Bard on the Beach website.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] [AGAIN]

This modern-day play is a satirical romp through the entirety of Shakespeare’s works. Performed by just three actors, the show rips through every single one of the Bard’s plays (as well as his sonnets). Each of the plays “performed” is done so in a dramatically condensed and often parodied way, to great comedic effect.

There is no fourth wall barrier between actor and audience in this show. The actors talk directly to those in the crowd throughout the performance and even include audience members in some of their scenes. There are elements of improvisation included as well, meaning that no two nights of the show are fully the same.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] plays at the Douglas Campbell Theatre from July 1st to September 20th, and is directed by Mark Chavez.

To learn more about this play click Bard on the Beach website.

THE DARK LADY

Composed by Canadian playwright Jessica B. Hill, The Dark Lady features Emilia Bassano, England’s first known published female poet. She was also a contemporary of Shakespeare, and theorized by some to be a candidate as to the identity of the mysterious “Dark Lady” referred to in his sonnets.

In this piece of historical fiction that’s also a musical, Bassano and Shakespeare’s lives become intertwined in a love story that explores both of their artistic desires and ambitions.

The play is directed by Moya O’Connell and runs in the Douglas Campbell Theatre from July 3rd to September 19th.

To learn more about this production, click Bard on the Beach website.

Bard Admission Details

In 2025 ticket prices for youth (ages 6 to 22) start at about $35 each and cost up to $49. Children under 6 aren’t permitted to most performances. Single-ticket prices for adults start at $35 and ranged up to about $98 depending on the seat.

Season passes are also available online (although they’re sold out as of early April). They include seats to all four shows at one discounted price. Regular Packs started at $236 in this year, while Premium Packs (with access to better seats) started at $292.

For more information about tickets and pricing, visit the official Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival website.

Bard Village Plaza — Inside the Bard Village

Bard Special Events

In addition to its usual Shakespearean plays, Bard on the Beach also offers a number of special events each season. These include extra evening choir and opera performances, as well as exclusive Fireworks viewing nights.

Below are the details on the special events in the 2025 season.

Bard Pride Day

To celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Bard on the Beach hosts Bard Pride Day on Saturday, June 28th in 2025. There are special activities to enjoy before the shows kick off for the day.

Family Days & Relaxed Performances

A special event that provides a way for all ages to enjoy the Bard experience happens during the Bard on the Beach season. Family Days and Relaxed Performances are when families can attend and enjoy various activities and a performance.

Dates for the Family Days in 2025 are July 13th and August 17th. They feature family-friendly activities followed by a performance of one of the shows.

The Relaxed Performance take place on June 29th this year and features Much Ado About Nothing. On this day, the environment is more casual. Folks in the audience can make noise and move around without worrying too much. This is perfect for families with young children.

Tickets for Family Days usually start at $30 for adults and youth. Special pay-as-you-like pricing is available for the Relaxed Performance.

Bard Fireworks Nights

The Bard Fireworks events usually take place during the Celebration of Light Festival on the last two Saturdays and last Wednesday prior to the BC Day Long Weekend. There is live entertainment each day and private views of the fireworks in English Bay.

2025 dates were July 19th and 26th. This year, folks get to watch Much Ado About Nothing or The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] prior to the fireworks. There’s also a dessert buffet and the option to order extra snacks and meals. Everyone is welcome to bring their own food as well.

To learn more about this event, see our article about Bard Fireworks Nights or visit the Bard on the Beach website.

Bard Village on Fireworks Night — Bard on the Beach on Fireworks Night

Other Special Events

Bard on the Beach offers a number of other special events as well. Talkback Tuesdays feature question and answer sessions with cast members on Tuesdays in July and August of 2025. Wine Wednesdays for adults include wine tastings and savoury bites before shows. This year, they take place on July 2nd, August 13th and September 10th. The tastings cost an extra $55 per person.

There are also four Bard Explored sessions with Paul Budra, who talks about the plays in-depth and takes questions from the audience. The sessions’ dates are June 28th (The Two Gentlemen of Verona), July 5th (Much Ado About Nothing), August 9th (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]) and August 16th (The Dark Lady).

For folks with disabilities, there are also Accessibility Nights in August and September.

Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival — Bard Festival Site

Bard Tips & Recommendations

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your Vancouver Shakespearean experience.

TIP #1: Especially if seeing a show in the evening in early June, late August or September, dress warmly, and maybe even take a blanket with you. Vancouver can get cool at night, even in the summer.

TIP #2: Consider combining your trip to see a Shakespearean show with other activities in the area. The Vancouver Maritime Museum, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and the Museum of Vancouver are all right next door, also in Vanier Park. Kitsilano Beach is also just down the way in one direction and Granville Island isn’t far in the other. The False Creek Seawall, which connects the whole area, is perfect for a pre-show stroll or cycle.

TIP #3: Unless you’re already a fan of Shakespeare and familiar with his works, consider reading up on the story before attending your show. Bard on the Beach is Shakespeare, with the original script written in Elizabethan English close to 400 years ago. If you read a synopsis in advance, it can enhance your Bard on the Beach experience and understanding of the plot and script.

TIP #4: If you have problems sitting comfortably for long periods, take a blanket or cushion to sit on. The seats are good and typical for a theatre, but some folks will appreciate the extra padding.

Click Bard on the Beach for the festival’s official website.

Bard on the Beach Entrance Gate — Bard Entrance Gate (Photo by Maxine Bulloch)

About Bard on the Beach

Founded by its present Artistic Director, Christopher Gaze, Bard on the Beach has been entertaining Vancouver audiences since 1990.

As a not-for-profit theatre, the theatre company employs about 30 talented actors each year, plus a large team of theatrical wizards working behind the scenes. An army of over 200 dedicated volunteers support the staff.

Since its founding, over 1.5 million people have enjoyed the Bard on the Beach shows, including over 90,000 spectators per season in recent years.