Bard on the Beach presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona, June 13 to September 19
On the BMO Mainstage, director Dean Paul Gibson puts an ’80s spin on this resonant tale of young love
The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
At Bard on the Beach, 2025 marks the BMO Mainstage debut of The Two Gentlemen of Verona—and there’s a throwback twist. This nostalgic visit to the ’80s features a soundtrack of unforgettable dance hits and tear-jerking ballads, as it celebrates friendship and the foolhardy ways young love makes people behave.
Sent to court to learn to be “perfect gentlemen”, Valentine (Matthew Ip Shaw) and Proteus (Jacob Leonard) are derailed by their attraction to Silvia (Agnes Tong), the Duke of Milan’s daughter. Adding to the fun, Crab—the only canine role in the Shakespearean canon—will be played by an actual dog.
Director Dean Paul Gibson’s production harnesses the wild energy of the ’80s and uses it to illuminate the play’s resonant notes on what it means to be young and in love.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs from June 13 to September 19. Visit Bard on the Beach for tickets and more information.
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
