Bard on the Beach 2025

The 2025 Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival will return to Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park in Vancouver from June to September, 2025.

The 2025 Season will include four dynamic productions including Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], and The Dark Lady. Individual tickets on sale Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Much Ado About Nothing

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

June 13 to September 19 • BMO MAINSTAGE
OH, YEAH! It’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona—with a twist! This nostalgic visit to the ‘80s features a soundtrack of that candy-coloured decade, from unforgettable dance hits to tear-jerking ballads, as it celebrates friendship and the foolhardy ways young love makes us behave. Sent to court to learn to be “perfect gentlemen,” Valentine and Proteus are derailed by their attraction to Silvia, the ruler’s daughter. Adding to the fun, the role of Crab will be played by an actual dog, the only dog role in the Shakespearean canon. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]

July 1 to September 20 • DOUGLAS CAMPBELL THEATRE
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] has been loved the world over, and now this irreverent, fast-paced romp makes its Bard on the Beach debut. Three players present an acclaimed (and hilarious) [and irresistible] sprint through all of Shakespeare’s canonical plays (plus the sonnets!). It’s a wild ride through the Bard’s histories, tragedies, and comedies that will leave you helpless with laughter. As The Today Show says, “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!” Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield; new revisions by Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. Directed by Mark Chavez.

The Dark Lady

July 3 to September 19 • DOUGLAS CAMPBELL THEATRE
Celebrated Canadian playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill’s The Dark Lady reclaims a story that was almost lost; that of Emilia Bassano, an intriguing multiracial, trilingual woman who was also a talented musician and England’s first female published poet. Is Bassano the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets? This witty and intimate production brings the two poets together in a complex love story about art, collaboration, desire, and ambition. The dialogue “cracks like a whip” (Winnipeg Free Press) and helps us both understand and challenge our love of Shakespeare through a powerful exploration of love and legacy. Directed by Moya O’Connell. Written by Jessica B. Hill.