Since sunshine is hardly an indicator of summer in the city, longtime Vancouverites and theatre fans identify the seasonal shift another way: Bard on the Beach's white tents at Vanier Park.
The venerable Shakespeare festival guarantees three things almost nightly: an entertaining introduction from co-founder Christopher Gaze; sirens punctuating a particularly dramaticsoliloquy; and two incredible casts bouncing back and forth between four different plays.
This year's offerings are particularly exciting. On the BMO Mainstage, acclaimed actress/director Meg Roe presents her version of Taming of the Shrew (May 31-Sept. 22), playing in repertory with Miles Potter's take on Macbeth (June 13-Sept. 20 with Bob Frazer andColleen Wheeler, pictured). On the Douglas Campbell Studio Stage, Johanna Wright directs The Merry Wives of Windsor (June 28-Sept. 21) in repertory with Bard's associate artistic director Dean Paul Gibson's direction of King John (July 11-Sept. 19).
Tickets go on sale Mar. 19. $21-$40 from BardOnTheBeach.org or 604-739-0559.
