Bard on the Beach Opens 2026 Season with a
Hilarious Take on The Merry Wives of Windsor
On the BMO Mainstage from June 9 to September 19
On June 9th, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival launches its 37th Season on the BMO Mainstage in Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park with a hilarious take on The Merry Wives of Windsor, sponsored by Lawson Lundell. Shakespeare’s beloved comedy lands in a modern Vancouver recreation centre in a new and distinctly local production brimming with music directed by Rebecca Northan, adapted in conjunction with Bruce Horak.
Set in and around a (fictional) Vancouver suburb seriously obsessed with soccer, at the centre of the chaos is Falstaff (Ashley Wright) — no longer a wandering knight, but a washed-up former soccer star chasing past glory. Armed with charm, bravado, and spectacular self-delusion, Falstaff hatches a scheme to seduce two clever women of the community — Mrs. Ford (Melissa Oei) and Mrs. Page (Jennifer Lines). What follows is a riot of suburban antics, clever plotting, and comic revenge brimming with music.
“This is Shakespeare at his most playful and accessible,” adds Artistic Director Christopher Gaze. “It’s a joyous, high-energy comedy that speaks directly to contemporary audiences while celebrating the timeless brilliance of these characters.”
“Falstaff is irresistible in all the best and worst ways; he is both endearing and exasperating,” says director Rebecca Northan. “We wanted to explore what happens when someone like that lands in a very recognizable modern world. The answer is chaos… and a lot of laughter.”
Cast members of The Merry Wives of Windsor include Rachel Angco (Anne Page/Simple),Yoshie Bancroft (Hostess), Steffanie Davis (Mrs. Quickly), Craig Erickson (Mr. Ford), Lucas Gnoato (Ensemble), Cameron Grant (Fenton), Sebastian Kroon (Bardolph), Jacob Leonard(Pistol/Rugby), Yi Ming Liu (Ensemble), Zahf Paroo (Evans), Raf Rogers (Dr. Caius), Anthony Santiago (Shallow), Munish Sharma (Mr. Page), and Sara Vickruck (Slender), along with understudies Kate Besworth and Paul Moniz de Sá.
Drawing inspiration from Vancouver, this fictional suburb and community centre are brought to life by Set Designer Amir Ofek with colourful and clever costumes by Costume Designer Barbara Clayden. Additional members of The Merry Wives of Windsor production team include Composer & Sound Designer Steve Charles, Lighting Designer Jeff Harrison, Assistant Lighting DesignerJill White, Fight Director Jonathan Hawley Purvis, and Choreographer & Intimacy Director Lisa Goebel. They are supported by Geoff Jones (Stage Manager), Jessica Bournival (Assistant Stage Manager), and Caroline Tang (Apprentice Stage Manager).
SPECIAL EVENTS for The Merry Wives of Windsor include:
Three matinee performances are designated Family Days, encouraging a new generation of young theatre patrons to discover Shakespeare and the Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park festival experience. Special pricing and kids’ activities are in effect July 11, August 16 & September 6. The Bard Village opens early for family-friendly activities followed by the 2pm matinee.
Patrons seeking a flexible theatre experience are invited to join us for a Relaxed Performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor on July 5 at 2pm
Celebrate your love of all things Shakespeare and make new friends at Bard Club. Come early to the August 5 matinee and join like-minded people for a pre-show talk and lively discussion at intermission. Patrons can RSVP for free by adding Bard Club to their ticket.
Those seeking a deeper dive into The Merry Wives of Windsor can attend a Bard Explored talk with UBC’s Professor Patricia Badir on September 12 on the BMO Mainstage.
Discover more about Bard’s production from the cast during Talkback Tuesdays in July and August, where performers will take part in free post-show discussions.
Before every performance, audiences are invited to The Merry Wives of Windsor in a Nutshell, a free pre-show talk providing short, informal introductions to the plays’ stories and characters.
Ticket prices for all regular play performances start at $30 CAD and are available now. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection, as many performances sell out in advance. The full performance schedule and event details are on the Bard website at bardonthebeach.org. To book tickets, order online through the Bard website or call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559
Bard on the Beach gratefully acknowledges the corporate sponsors and donors who support and sustain the Festival and its programs. Sponsors include BMO (BMO Mainstage), Nicola Wealth (Season Sponsor) and Production Sponsors Lawson Lundell, Odlum Brown, Polygon Homes, and The Spotlight Circle. Season Media Sponsors include the Vancouver Sun and Global BC, as well as many other valued sponsors and partners. Bard also thanks the City of Vancouver Cultural Services Department, the Vancouver Park Board, the Province of British Columbia, the BC Arts Council, Government of Canada, and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continuing support.
About Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Established in 1990, Bard’s mission is to create transformational experiences through exceptional theatre, training and education opportunities that inspire, resonate, and promote the exchange of ideas. As well as its annual summer Festival, Bard offers year-round education and training programs for youth, adults, and theatre professionals in its administrative home at the BMO Theatre Centre in Olympic Village as well as in schools and community facilities throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Feature image: Jennifer Lines as Mrs. Page and Melissa Oei as Mrs. Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2026). Directed by Rebecca Northan. Photo & Image Design by Emily Cooper.