Bard Club cultivates lively Shakespeare discussions at Vanier Park, starting July 16

Facilitated conversations with directors take place before matinee showings of four Bard on the Beach productions this season

By emily lyth

Bard on the Beach. Photo by Tim Matheson

Bard on the Beach hosts the first session of Bard Club, for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], on July 16 at 1:30 pm

IF YOU’VE EVER been to see Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park, you might recall just how much lively conversation each production sparks. It’s for good reason: Shakespeare is the most well-known playwright on the planet, and the summer festival offers fresh takes on his material year after year, keeping it ever-interesting for audiences.

Bard Club is the perfect opportunity to dive head-first into these theatrical discussions. Held four times over the course of the summer season at 1:30 pm before matinee shows, the Stir-sponsored event involves a facilitated pre-play chat with a complimentary soft drink. During intermission, the dialogue picks back up with coffee and tea. Bard Club attendance is free but space is limited; be sure to RSVP when you purchase a ticket for that day’s show.

The first session will take place in tandem with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] on July 16. Director Mark Chavez and Stir editorial director Janet Smith—who has been covering Vancouver’s theatre, dance, screen, design, music, opera, and gallery scenes for more than two decades—will be leading the conversation.

Later this season, catch Bard Club sessions for The Dark Lady on August 2 with director Moya O’Connell, Much Ado About Nothing on August 6 with director Johnna Wright, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona on August 27 with director Dean Paul Gibson and Smith.

In our recent Two Gentlemen article, costume designer Carmen Alatorre tells Stir about the retro spin she put on the garments for the show, drawing on all things ’80s for inspiration. “It was a really exaggerated era, especially for haircuts and colour,” she says. “It almost feels like our modern eye is just not used to that anymore!”

Much Ado, on the other hand, gets a much more traditional—but still dazzling—take: director Johnna Wright shares that she’s set the plot at a house party in an idyllic Mediterranean vineyard, which includes a “really beautiful setting with the stone terrace out behind the house where everybody relaxes in the summertime.”

Pastel colour palettes and sun-soaked vineyards will likely be topics of discussion at Bard Club. In the meantime, check out our preview of The Dark Lady and our reviews of Much Ado and Two Gentlemen. And keep an eye on the Stir site and socials for more coverage as the season continues.  

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