For one night only, the Vancouver theatre institution known as Bard on the Beach, a theatre company that year after year puts on some of the most fabulous Shakespeare performances is changing direction and becoming a Fight Club.
Well, okay, it is not exactly an Ed Norton style fight club, but it is a change up for the Bard on the Beach Festival.
“The Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, in partnership with Academie Duello, presents an evening of words and swordplay to celebrate the Canadian release of Bard alumni C.C. Humphreys’ latest novel, Shakespeare’s Rebel. The event will be held in Bard’s BMO Mainstage Theatre in Vanier Park on Monday, July 22, 2013. All tickets $10 (general admission).
I had the pleasure of attending and filming a few minutes of one of the rehearsals for the Bard’s Fight Night. I apologize in advance for the quality of some of the video, without realizing it at the time, I changed a setting on my camera so some of the video is quite blurry.
During the rehearsal the people from Academie Duello and two actors, Kayla and Camden were “mapping their scene”.
It was interesting to see how the company puts together what the casual observer might see as a “quick sword fight”. The amount of preparation to put on a sword fight that is a just a minute or two long is extraordinary.
After the rehearsal was over I continued watching Kayla and Camden continue their practice out in the Bard on the Beach courtyard. Both actors are certified in the art of sword fighting by Fight Directors Canada. Once again, I have to say that I am very impressed by the methodical and mechanical work that goes into preparing for a sword fighting scene.
I am looking forward to seeing how all the practice and scene mapping comes together into one fluid performance. If you would like to see the Bard on the Beach Fight Night, come on down to Vancouver’s Vanier Park on Monday, July 22nd. The show begins at 7pm.
Special event details for Shakespeare’s Rebel book launch and sword fight event are as follows:
Event date: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Ticket pricing: $10 (all fees and taxes included); general admission
Event location: BMO Mainstage, Bard on the Beach
Copies of Shakespeare’s Rebel will be available for purchase at the event, signed by C.C. Humphreys
The performance schedule and information can be found on the Bard website at bardonthebeach.org. For more information and tickets, call 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559 or order online through the Bard website.