What Vancouver's Art Scene Has To Offer This Summer
Photo Credit: Bard on the Beach
While staples of the city, springtime in Vancouver includes more than mountain views and cherry blossoms. This spring, the arts scene encompasses a variety of interesting acts, with everything from ballet to Shakespeare available for interested viewers.
From May 7–9, Ballet BC is showing “UNITY” at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which is their last program of the season. The performance is choreographed by Bobbi Smith and Or Schraiber, a duo who recently debuted works for the National Ballet of Canada and the Little Island amphitheatre in New York City. The work displays Ballet BC’s entire cast, and the dancers are accompanied by a quartet playing a score composed by Philip Glass.
Running from May 28 to Jul. 26, The Arts Club Theatre Company is presenting Come from Away, a Tony-nominated musical that takes place in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland. Based on true events, the town’s size nearly doubles after 7000 stranded passengers arrive, who are then welcomed with an overwhelming amount of love and hospitality. The show is hosted at the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, and tickets start at $39 each.
Western Canada’s largest Shakespeare festival, Bard on the Beach, returns on Jun. 9 with four new shows. Firstly, The Merry Wives of Windsor, a comedic and lighthearted play set in a fictional and soccer-obsessed suburb of Vancouver, is playing on the BMO Mainstage. As a counterpart, Bard on the Beach presents a classic: Macbeth, directed by Stephen Drover, which provides a reliable choice for more traditional Shakespeare fans. Additionally, the festival is hosting a play titled Goblin: Oedipus, which is categorized as a clever and hilarious twist on one of Greece’s most tragic myths. Lastly, the festival is putting on Antigone, which is another retelling of Sophocles, this time following Oedipus’ daughter Antigone. The play was adapted by Kate Betsworth and directed by Ming Hudson, taking place at the Douglas Campbell Theatre.
The performances on the main stage take place in an open-air tent with a stunning backdrop of English Bay, the city, and the mountains.
Also playing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Broadway Across Canada will present the famous musical Mamma Mia! from May 28-31. Set on a Greek island, a daughter ventures to reunite three men from her mother’s past in search of her father before her looming wedding day. Tickets for the show can be purchased on Ticketmaster.