The festival is produced by Bard on the Beach Theatre Society whose mandate is to provide Vancouver residents and tourists with affordable, accessible Shakespearean productions of the finest quality.

[1] Bard on the Beach began as an Equity Co-op in the summer of 1990,[2] funded primarily by an Explorations Grant awarded to Artistic Director Christopher Gaze by the Canada Council for the Arts.

The following summer, this same group staged A Midsummer Night's Dream in a rented theatre tent in Vanier Park as the inaugural Bard on the Beach production.

The festival grounds also contain dressing rooms, administrative offices for seasonal staff and an event Marquee along with two large picnic lawns and portable washrooms for patrons.

The new tent maintains an open-backed design and Bard's signature backdrop: False Creek; the Coast Mountains; and city skyline.

The physical playing space within the theatre was named after the Bank of Montreal in recognition of their lead contribution to the Festival's capital campaign.

Bard on the Beach typically stages two productions in repertory on the BMO Mainstage in each season, alongside a selection of choral, symphony and opera presentations.

Collectively, the programs endeavour to inspire the community through dynamic, engaging experiences with the language, characters and plays of William Shakespeare.

Participants aged 19 through 24 take an active role in assisting Young Shakespeareans Workshops Teaching Artists, deliver pre-show introductory talks to the audience and work with a veteran Bard company actor to prepare a final presentation at the end of the season.

In addition to the four plays, there are a number of events throughout the summer: 1990[12] 1991[12] 1992[12] 1993[12] 1994[12] 1995[12] 1996[12] 1997[12] 1998[12] 1999[12] From 1995 to 1998, bard added a short series of Peak Performances to the Festival's season.