The Dark Lady reclaims the story of Emilia Bassano at Bard on the Beach, July 3 to September 19
The first female published poet in England interacts with Shakespeare in Jessica B. Hill’s witty, complex love story
The Dark Lady. Photo by Emily Cooper
Bard on the Beach presents celebrated Canadian playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill’s The Dark Lady in the Douglas Campbell Theatre tent from July 3 to September 19.
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?
Witty and intimate, this production brings the two poets together in a complex love story about art, collaboration, desire, and ambition. This two-hander is full of charged dialogue and helps audiences both understand and challenge their love of Shakespeare through a powerful exploration of intimacy and legacy.
Directed by Moya O’Connell, The Dark Lady stars Arghavan Jenati as Emilia and Nathan Kay as Shakespeare. The production features original music composed by Anju Singh.
For tickets and more details, visit Bard on the Beach.
Post sponsored by Bard on the Beach.
Related Articles
Brussels-based company also presents its beloved play La Convivialité, which addresses convention in French spelling
Professional Association of Canadian Theatres prize recognizes Vancouver company work that addressed 2021 heat wave, flooding, and fires
At the Firehall Arts Centre, Drew Hayden Taylor draws complex characters and sharp comedic artworld moments in a play that really kicks into gear in second act
Starring Banafsheh Hassani and directed by Art Babayants, play draws on a classic Greek tragedy to explore calls to action
Play by David French stars Dolores Drake as 17-year-old Mary and Craig March as her former sweetheart Jacob
In Lost Dog’s witty mix of dance, comedy, and theatre at The Cultch, the famous couple have to contend with everything the rest of us do
Royal City Musical Theatre’s inventive staging and design help bring classic cast of characters to vivid life
Adaptation of the beloved film follows fashionable sorority president Elle Woods on her journey to law school
Prolific playwright Drew Hayden Taylor bases the new work on real forgeries of paintings by late Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau
Carousel Theatre for Young People brings the beloved Robert Munsch story to life at the Waterfront Theatre
Secret Ingredients, 42nd Street, and Woking Phoenix amid the choices on Richmond venue’s roster
Guided by audience suggestions, the ensemble explores strange—and hilarious—new worlds in the space-themed show
Peter Jorgensen and Nicole Spinola are on deck to direct the alternating shows in Stanley Park this summer
Live podcast recording at the Roundhouse features short original performances by 10 emerging artists
Playing at The Cultch’s York Theatre, ambitious Urban Ink and Raven Theatre work wields multiple threads and is bound to ignite discussion of often-neglected Indigenous issues
Based on DreamWorks Animation’s 2001 hit, Royal City Musical Theatre presents the beloved tale of an ogre defending his swamp and finding love and friendship along the way
Arts Club Theatre Company musical is buoyed by strong performances, soaring music, and sharp comedy
Special events include Wine Wednesdays, Family Days, and the all-new Bard After Dark cabaret nights
French tragicomedy for young audiences tells the story of a little pea who’s been displaced and must find his way home
Longtime friends and Theatre Replacement collaborators cross genres at The Cultch in a work that explores existence through music, science, lecture, art installation—and cake
In Upintheair Theatre’s annual event at The Cultch, opera, standup, puppets, and more mix together in experimental stage works about everything from eco disaster to cats
