THEATRE PREVIEW

JUNE 2026 | Volume 264

 

Bard on the Beach Opens Douglas Campbell Theatre
With a Contemporary Adaptation of a Classical Greek Tragedy
 
Conceived by Kate Besworth and Ming Hudson, Antigone is a story about Rebellion, Grief, and Moral Courage
 
Bard on the Beach opens the Douglas Campbell Theatre with Antigone, a bold, contemporary adaptation conceived by Kate Besworth and Ming Hudson. Sophocles' classical Greek tragedy has been adapted by local playwright Kate Besworth and presented in modern prose. Directed by Ming Hudson, Antigone is raw, timely, filled with rebellion, grief and moral courage; offering a story as relevant today as it was in ancient Greece.
 
"The story of Antigone is ancient, and this production explores the tension between fate and personal agency, asking what individuals owe to family, conscience, and community in moments of crisis," says director Ming Hudson. "This is a family linked together by an inescapable history and an unavoidable future. This story has survived millennia and spread across continents. And after thousands of years and thousands of kilometres, it continues to be relevant and resonant because although so much has changed, so much has remained the same."
 
Antigone examines political power, family devastation, and the personal cost of standing against authority. Following a brutal civil war in Thebes, sisters Antigone and Ismene are left to navigate the aftermath of a shattered family. Their uncle Creon, newly crowned king, orders that Antigone's brother Polynices be denied burial as punishment for rebelling, condemning his spirit to wander without peace. Defying the decree, Antigone risks her life to honour her brother and confronts the devastating consequences of moral resistance in a society fractured by violence and fear.
 
Developed over seven years through a collaborative process between playwright Kate Besworth and director Ming Hudson, the production brings a distinctly contemporary urgency to one of theatre's oldest stories. Antigone is the first project presented through Bard on the Beach's The Spotlight Circle, which supports innovative women-led artistic initiatives.
 
Designed for Bard's Douglas Campbell Theatre, the production embraces the elemental atmosphere of the tent. Set and Costume Designer Jessica Oostergo draws inspiration from ancient Greek ruins, natural materials, and fractured mosaics that visually echo the play's themes of loss, fragmentation, and interconnectedness. Composer, Musical Director & Sound Designer Joelysa Pankanea has created an organic tonal landscape using layers of drums and cast vocals mimicking the elements that unfolds as we follow the journey of Antigone.
 
Additional members of Antigone's production team include John Webber (Lighting Designer), Jonathan Hawley Purvis (Fight Director & Movement Consultant), and Lisa Goebel (Intimacy Director). They are supported by Rebecca Mulvihill (Stage Manager) and Jenny Kim (Assistant Stage Manager).
 
SPECIAL EVENTS for Antigone include:
 
●      Celebrate your love of all things Shakespeare and make new friends at Bard Club. Come early to the August 26 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 Antigone can attend a Bard Explored talk with SFU's Professor Paul Budra on August 15 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 Antigone in a Nutshell, a free pre-show talk providing a short, informal introduction to the play's' story 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. Visit the Bard website to book tickets or call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559. 

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.

 

get in touch with vancouverplays:

EMAIL US

SUBMIT LISTINGS

 SUBMIT PREVIEW

 ADVERTISE WITH US