(This story is sponsored by Bard on the Beach)

Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival launches its 35th Season in Senakw/Vanier Park with Twelfth Night.

Director Diana Donnelly celebrates a topsy-turvy carnival world packed with romance and laughs, adventure, and self-discovery, set to original music by beloved Vancouver singer-songwriter Veda Hille. This beloved play blends mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and whimsical revelry into a fun-filled, beautiful whole.

“We are thrilled to be working with some of Canada’s finest theatre creators to bring this incredible work to Vancouver this summer,” says Christopher Gaze, Bard on the Beach artistic director. “The creative team of Diana Donnelly and Veda Hille create a musical and magical world where audiences will be swept away by this hilarious tale of mistaken identities.”

Set in the colorful carnival of Illyria, Twelfth Night follows the story of Viola, a young woman shipwrecked and separated from her brother Sebastian who she believes is dead. Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario to navigate this unfamiliar territory and enters into the service of Duke Orsino, who sends Cesario (Viola) to woo the beautiful Countess Olivia on his behalf.

Things take a turn when Olivia falls for Cesario instead of the Duke, leading to a delightful love triangle. Meanwhile, chaos ensues as Olivia’s household is thrown into disarray by the antics of her rowdy uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and his foolish companion, Sir Andrew Aguecheek. They join forces with the witty maid Maria and the clever clown Feste to play a series of pranks on Olivia’s uptight steward, Malvolia, who becomes the unwitting target of their mischief.

Tickets and information at bardonthebeach.org