Bard on the Beach announces the return of its annual Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps and Teen Workshops, with sessions beginning July 3 and running through to August 31, 2018. Registration is now open for the programs, which allow children and teens from ages 8 to 18 to receive coaching by professional actors from Bard on the Beach, and perform some of Shakespeare’s most beloved works on the iconic stage under the white tents in Vanier Park. One of the theatre company’s key education initiatives for more than two decades, this season Young Shakespeareans will grow and expand to include full-day options that take participants beyond the world of performance and into production.
The full scope of the Young Shakespeareans Summer Camps and Workshops consists of 16 distinct sessions, most of which are half-day sessions running for two weeks. Each workshop caters to a specific age group (8 to 13 or 13 to 18 year olds) and is centred around one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays (among 2018 options are Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more). Two intensive workshops are offered for full-day sessions for a single week, for 11-14 and 15-18 year olds.
Over the course of the workshop, professional actors from Bard’s company will help participants bring Shakespeare’s words to life through coaching in voice, movement and dialogue, and with activities designed to boost confidence and foster collaborative relationships. Each session culminates with the opportunity for the young thespians to share their work on Bard on the Beach’s Vanier Park stages.
New for 2018, the traditional two-week, half-day program will expand to include full-day options. Following a morning of learning and rehearsing, participants can choose to stay for the afternoons, going ‘behind-the-scenes’ to learn about the broader workings of a theatre production. These special activities will include explorations of prop and wardrobes, tours of technical facilities, and special visits and activities with guest Festival staff.
Participation costs range from $370.00 to $490.00 for two-week, half-day programs and one-week, full-day programs; and $800.00 for two-week, full-day programs. All programs have additional options available for early drop-off and late pick-up. A Bard Education Bursary Fund is also available for individuals who may require assistance overcoming financial barriers to participation.
Registration and further information about Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps and Teen Workshops is available at: bardonthebeach.org/education/community/young-shakespeareans.
Bard on the Beach presents Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps and Teen Workshops
Dates: July 3 to August 31, 2018
Venue: Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park Bard Village, 1695 Whyte Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Registration Cost: Two-week, Half-day/One-week, Full-day Programs: $370.00 - $490.00 Two-week, Full-day Programs: $800.00
Website: bardonthebeach.org/education
Photo by Joe Biegel