Summers With Shakespeare – Bard on The Beach ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Each summer I feel like is always better than the last, and I am very grateful to be able to go on many adventures and attend a variety of fun events where I learn so much and meet such amazing people! If you’ve been following along my social media, the past two weeks have been particularly filled with shows and events. So expect lots of recaps and reviews from me 🙂

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Bard on The Beach performance. Bard on The Beach is another summer favourite for many Vancouverites and those visiting Vancouver. Currently celebrating its 27th season, Bard on The Beach is Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festival. Adding their own twist into Shakespeare’s works (while staying true to the originals), Bard makes it actually easy to follow along! This is one of the things I really love about Bard. Ask anyone that has attended high school in British Columbia, and they will be able to tell you some funny stories of their experience with the mandatory Shakespeare pieces they read during English classes. I have to admit, those numerous nights of memorizing lines for the class performances, I probably only understood half of what those lines meant. Bard performances is perfect for those that want to delve into the Shakespeare world and actually understand what is going on most of the time. I chose to attend a showing of a true Shakespeare classic, Romeo and Juliet.

As many may know, Romeo and Juliet is a very popular work of Shakespeare that follows the tragic story of lovers Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague. Juliet and Romeo come from families that have been rivals for years, and their love does not result in a happily ever after ending.

Follow along as I take you through my evening!

The iconic Bard sign at the main entrance. Bard on The Beach is located near Vanier Park, right beside the Museum of Vancouver, it is pretty easy to spot the tents and signs.

Love the production photos for guests to enjoy while waiting to enter the tents.

The wait to pick up my tickets wasn’t too long, the staff were very friendly and tried their best to be as quick as possible so everyone can get inside asap.

A very relaxing open area to enjoy some pre-show fun!

First time attending Bard? Learn all about the history! 27 years of history!

Truly amazing how many people from different places come together to watch these performances.

A Queen Elizabeth plush toy anyone?

What about Shakespeare himself?

These bandages are just too awesome haha!

The quality of the souvenirs is very good. I feel like this is something that should be mentioned as I have bought keepsake items in the past from shows and events where the quality did not hold up as time went on. Which was quite the bummer as those pieces reminds me of my memorable experiences.

Popcorn, cold and hot beverages, and candy are available for purchase to enjoy before or during the show. Just be careful not to make a mess inside the performance tents 🙂

 

As with many of their other performances, it was a full house at the performance I attended.

The chemistry between the two leads is very important, and Hailey Gillis (as Juliet) and Andrew Chown (as Romeo) does not disappoint. Audience members can feel the passion between Juliet and Romeo on the stage, and even if you can’t decipher every line of Shakespearean, you can definitely feel it. I found Hailey Gillis to shine particularly during her sobbing scenes, delivering a very natural performance during these tense scenes, you really can’t help but to shed a tear as well!

The costumes are simple yet classic, and reflects each character truthfully. Not going overboard, but not underdelivering either. Kudos to the costume design team!

As I mentioned before, Shakespeare is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think with some time many people can start appreciating it better. Bard really does an amazing job at bridging that gap. Shakespeare has definitely grown on me more over the years. I would recommend both Shakespeare lovers and those seeking to learn more to attend a show or two with Bard! There are still many performances until the end of season, and a variety of works to choose from (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, Pericles, and Romeo and Juliet). There is something for everyone! More information here.

I absolutely LOVE the night time vibes here, the sun setting near the water with the mountains in the background. Simply amazing.

Thank you Bard On The Beach for hosting me at your show!

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*All photos were taken by me, with the exception of the production photos. Please remember there is absolutely no photography or video recordings allowed during the performance.