This isn’t your high school English class’ Shakespeare– it’s Bard on the Beach! Presenting plays written by the Bard himself, Bard on the Beach is an annual Vancouver tradition that features a series of expertly directed and acted Shakespearean plays.
BARD ON THE BEACH 2025
Between June and September 2025, the company is putting on four productions: Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], andThe Dark Lady. These will take place on the BMO Mainstage and Douglas Campbell Theatre, under the tents at Vanier Park.
Whether you prefer drama, intrigue, romance, or comedy, you won’t be short of excitement with Bard on the Beach’s performances. This 2025 season is sure to have you learning all about Shakespeare’s brilliant writing. It’ll have you turning from a “Shakespeare agnostic into [a] Shakespeare lover,” as Bard Founding Artistic Director Christopher Gaze puts it.
We’ve listed below what each production is about, so you can read for yourself which of Shakespeare’s works you’d like to experience.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: BMO Mainstage
Wit, wordplay, and colourful characters take the stage in this tumultuous love story. The play follows two pairs of couples– Beatrice and Benedick, and Claudio and Hero– who are entrenched in mischief, secret love, and marriage.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: BMO Mainstage
This isn’t your average production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona… this one’s got a twist! Head to the ‘80s with this unique take on a classic Shakespeare tale, complete with dance hits and tear-jerking ballads. Valentine and Proteus are sent to court to learn how to become the “perfect gentlemen”, but end up getting tangled in their simultaneous attraction to the ruler’s daughter, Silvia. Also featuring an actual dog playing the role of Crab!
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] [AGAIN]: Douglas Campbell Theatre
Are you a fan of fast-paced productions and irreverent humour? Well, then this one’s for you: it’s a wild sprint through all of Shakespeare’s canonical plays and sonnets. Take a trip through history that will have you rolling with laughter. This will be the production’s debut season with Bard on the Beach.
THE DARK LADY: Douglass Campbell Theatre
Who is the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets? This production is a reclamation of a story that was nearly lost– of Emilia Bassano, a multiracial, trilingual woman whose talent for music and poetry made her the first female published poet. Bringing together love, art, and collaboration, The Dark lady is an exploration of legacy.
Tickets are currently starting at $35 for regular performances. Previews have special prices available for $10 off in zones A+, A, and B. Additionally, youth prices from ages 6 to 22 get 50% off regular priced tickets in zones A+ and A.
EVENT DETAILS:
📅 Date: June 10 – September 20, 2025
📍 Location: Vanier Park
🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Bard on the Beach
