Bard on the Beach is an annual Shakespeare festival that runs from June to September in Vancouver. The festival is organized by the non-profit Bard on the Beach Theatre Society, which aims to make Shakespeare’s works accessible to both residents and visitors. Learn more at vancouveriski.
The Festival’s Origins
The first festival took place in 1990. It was launched by a small actors’ union, the Equity Co-op, with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts. The festival’s founder, Christopher Gaze, wanted to give everyone a chance to see professional Shakespearean productions at an affordable price. He had dreamed of being an actor since childhood, training at Britain’s National Youth Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After graduating, he spent several years touring cities in the United States and Canada with various theatre companies before permanently settling in Vancouver in 1983.
Bard on the Beach’s inaugural season was a huge success. The only play performed was *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, staged in Vanier Park with a budget of $35,000. The following year, a second play, *As You Like It*, was added to the lineup. The repertoire gradually expanded, attracting more visitors and a larger budget each year. By 2022, the event required an $8 million budget, and attendance had grown to over 100,000 people.
Each season, the theatre company brings together dozens of talented actors, directors, designers, and technicians, as well as over 300 volunteers.
Christopher Gaze has earned a reputation as a champion for the arts in British Columbia. His passion for popularizing theatre led to the creation of one of Canada’s largest professional theatre companies and has turned the festival into one of Vancouver’s top tourist attractions.
The Venue
Bard on the Beach is traditionally held in Vanier Park, at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. The location, where the performance tents are pitched, offers a scenic backdrop of mountains, sea, and sky, giving the festival its unique charm. This natural beauty is what inspired Christopher Gaze to stage Shakespeare’s plays in open-ended tents in Vancouver.
In 1992, the theatre society purchased a 500-seat tent for this location. It was redesigned and expanded in 2011 to accommodate 742 people, and the stage was named the BMO Mainstage in honour of the Bank of Montreal (BMO) for its contributions. The new tent also features comfortable seats with drink holders. However, its main highlight is the signature backdrop for the festival’s performances: a stunning view of False Creek, the mountains, and the city skyline.
A second, smaller stage, the Douglas Campbell Theatre, was added in 1999. It was named in honour of Douglas Campbell, a friend and mentor to Christopher Gaze. This more intimate venue seats 240 and has typically been used for lesser-known Shakespeare plays or their modern interpretations. Since 2005, it has also featured works by other playwrights that help to explore Shakespeare’s world.
There is also a cluster of tents called the Bard Village, which houses the box office, gift shops, and food and drink concessions. The rest of the site includes dressing rooms, administrative offices, washrooms, and picnic areas.
Beyond entertainment, the festival also has an educational mission. For instance, the *Bard in the Classroom* program offers workshops for young people. These sessions introduce them to Shakespeare’s work, often focusing on a specific play, and teach skills like voice work and other theatre exercises.