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President’s Report – 2018

Shakespeare and Martial Arts

a successful combination for Bard in the Valley’s ninth season!

In 2018, Bard in the Valley (BIV) staged Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at three outdoor

venues in Greater Langley. The show was well received with 2800 people attending the 16

performances and record crowds at the shows at the Township 7 Winery

.

Romeo and Juliet, with a cast of 25, was directed by Jacq Ainsworth and produced by Diane

Gendron with assistant producer Shawn McGrory. The director’s vision of giving the production

a martial arts theme was supported fully by all involved: the BIV board, the hardworking and

knowledgeable technicians, the creative and supportive production team and crew, and the

talented actors.

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The dramatic martial arts action and fight scenes, choreographed by Phay Gagnon and Jordan

Plaster, were well executed and created tension and excitement for the audience.

The addition of young dancers from AzestA Ballet, added to the visual delight.

The season opened on June 29 in Fort Langley on the lawn in front of the historic community

hall with subsequent performances at that location on June 30 and on July 1, as part of Fort

Langley’s Canada Day Celebrations. On Canada Day, Diane Gendron, Shawn McGrory and three

cast members donned costumes and walked through the crowds handing out handbills for the

performance that evening.

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This is the sixth year BIV has successfully partnered with the Township 7 Winery, staging five

performances at that location on the middle two weekends in July. On the final two weekends

in July, Bard in the Valley returned to its home stage in Langley City – the Spirit Square Stage at

Douglas Park – for another eight performances.

As in the past, 11 of the 16 shows were admission-free, thanks to generous support from the

community – both individuals and sponsors.

Once again, the weather cooperated and not one show was rained-out. There were sprinkles in

Fort Langley at one of the performances so we shortened some of the final scenes but not one

person in the audience left before the curtain call. It was, however, a different story when it

was time to take the set down and load it on the truck following the final performance at Fort

Langley. It was pouring with rain and the cast and crew were soaked through.

Accessible and Affordable – BIV’s Vision

Since Bard in the Valley’s inception in 2009, the Society’s vision has been dedicated to making

the plays we produce affordable and accessible to a wide audience, and thanks to generous

community support and cast and crew members who volunteer their expertise and time, the

society is still able to offer this exciting, summer theatre admission-free for 11 of the

performances.

Bard in the Valley’s free admission policy gives whole families the opportunity to come to watch

the show. Many people bring blankets, chairs and picnics, and spread out on the lawn in front

of the stage to picnic and watch the show. People who don’t want to travel into Vancouver to

see a play, or can’t afford to go to a play in the big city can, and do, come to see BIV’s

productions. In addition, many people come from the area immediately surrounding Douglas

Park (an area that includes many social housing complexes).

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Thank You to Generous Sponsors

The Bard in the Valley team wishes to thank generous sponsors, supporters and advertisers:

The City of Langley, The Township of Langley, The Rotary Club of Langley, Smythe LLP, The

Langley Times, 24/7 Security, Tourism Langley, MediaLink Graphic Design, The Waterstone Law

Group, The Aldergrove Rotary Club, MP John Aldag, MLA Rich Coleman, The Township 7 Winery

and, for the first year, The Wolfe Auto Group.

Bard in the Valley is fortunate to have continuing support from the City of Langley. Langley City,

through an in-kind grant, gives BIV the rehearsal and the performance spaces. In addition, City

staff create the graphics for the “Thank you” poster, and print the scripts for the auditions. Plus

City staff list the BIV production on their website and on the marquee at Douglas Park. It is a

pleasure working with the enthusiastic and supportive City staff.

BIV’s biggest single expense is security for the set at night in Fort Langley and at Douglas Park.

24/7 Security – a long-time sponsor that generously gives BIV a rate discount – was onsite for

16 nights at the two venues. BIV does not hire security to watch the set during the day. To date,

the set has been treated with respect and there has been no vandalism.

All sponsors were sent a thank you letter along with photos, a program, a copy of the Langley

Times advertisement, a poster and handbill as well as two complimentary tickets to see the

show at the Township 7 Winery. Council members at the Township and City of Langley, the BIV

Founding 50, media, cast, production team and board members were all given two tickets to

see the show at the Township 7 Winery.

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Publicity – Creating Awareness

News releases were prepared and distributed widely, along with publicity photos. BIV received

good coverage in the media for both the auditions and for the performances. For the

performances: an article with photo in the Langley Times; an article and photo in the Langley

Advance; photos and articles in the Cloverdale Reporter, Surrey Now Newspaper and

Discovering Langley 2016; online and hardcopy listings in the Times, Advance, Sun, Province,

and the City of Langley website. BIV sponsor, Tourism Langley, includes BIV information on their

comprehensive network.

https://www.langleytimes.com/entertainment/classic-shakespeare-tragedy-gets-a-futuristic-

twist/

https://www.langleyadvance.com/home/video-shakespeares-rj-with-a-futuristic-twist-opens-

friday/

The poster was distributed widely. The Langley Times gave BIV two full-colour

quarter-page ads.

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The Bard in the Valley Team

BIV has a terrific group of 60 talented creative artists, actors, and dedicated people on the crew

and production team, all of whom volunteer their talent, time and energy for the season. The

one person on the team who receives remuneration is the director who is given a $500

honorarium.

The team, led by Shawn McGrory and Bob Purcell, erected the set and took the set down at all

three venues. Amber Schneider coordinated the loading of the truck and Shawn always made

sure the truck was at the right location.

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Board Members

Bard in the Valley board members made significant contributions: Secretary, Leslie Gaudette

coordinates the front of house team; Ron Williams advises on lighting and sound requirements,

purchases equipment as necessary and takes on a major technical role at performances; Shawn

McGrory takes on many roles – assistant producer, props locator and creator, set painter and

decorator, and set erection, all while renting and driving a truck and coordinating all four set

moves; Treasurer, Betty McGregor, keeps BIV’s accounts in pristine shape; Madison McArthur

has had major roles in several BIV productions and facilitates space at the HD Stafford Middle

School for the BIV Youth Theatre Workshops rehearsals and performance; Tamara Johnston

coordinated the transition and development of the new Bard in the Valley website; June

Ainsworth created the production design for Romeo and Juliet including the sound and music

design and the look for the set and costumes. And, recent addition to the BIV board, Jacq

Ainsworth, directed Romeo and Juliet.

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Sharing Their Talents

The attention-getting poster for Romeo and Juliet was designed by graphic artist Jim Garnett.

Jim also created the program and the graphics for the advertisements in the Langley Times, as

well as creating the complimentary tickets.

The set was built by Bob Purcell and painted by Leigh Burton, Shawn McGrory, June Ainsworth

and Jacq Ainsworth.

Sound design was created by June Ainsworth.

Photographer, Graham Bryan, took the publicity photos and candid photos for both Romeo and

Juliet and After the Thin Man.

Costumes were created by and Sara Lohnes and Mollie Lohnes based on June Ainsworth’s

concepts. The Lohnes’ also took on the role of wardrobe mistresses.

Running the performances we had a terrific crew: Amber Schneider, stage manager; Jim

Garnett, sound set-up; Brady Archibald, sound-tech assistant; June Ainsworth, sound cues; and

Ron Williams, lighting set-up and technician. Ron also ran the sound board and lighting for After

the Thin Man.

Pearl Wong provided a theatre-style concession at every performance and, as always, she gave

all profits to Bard in the Valley.

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An Additional Production

The Township of Langley invited Bard in the Valley, for a third year, to put on an evening of

entertainment during the Halloween Season. The fee from the Township provided an

honorarium for the actors, Foley Artists, keyboard artist, costumer, props person, lighting and

sound technician and photographer. A troupe of nine people staged a 1940s Lux Radio Theatre

play: After the Thin Man. Live music and sound effects created right on the stage, took many of

the audience members back to the experience of sitting in their living rooms with their families

listening to the plays come alive on the radio. This year Ron Williams added lighting effects to

give the production more depth. It was an evening with dinner and theatre-fun at the Langley

Events Centre on October 18. 92 people attended the production.

Audience Appreciation

Every year, we see more and more people in the audience for whom attending a Bard in the

Valley production has become a welcome summer tradition for themselves, their friends and

families. They especially appreciate being able to give their children this valuable cultural

experience right here at home.

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Bard in the Valley’s Youth Theatre Program

Bard in the Valley, with a grant from the City of Langley, offered a 12-week youth theatre

workshop for young people between the ages of 11 and 15 on Tuesday afternoons at HD

Stafford beginning in September. Shane Rochon, the workshop leader, has a degree in theatre

arts from Dawson College and experience in film and TV. Lauren Trotzuk, a longtime BIV

member, actor, singer and playwright, came onboard as an assistant for the final three

rehearsals and performance. Shawn McGrory, actor and longtime BIV board member, collected

props and attended the rehearsals. Other people with specific areas of expertise were brought

in to do workshops with the participants on creating costumes and make-up looks and painting

set pieces. Bunny Waddell talked to the children about what goes into the decisions about what

a character will wear. Mandy Knopp created make-up looks for their characters. Sandi McEwen,

a talented artist, painted the set pieces and helped Diane Gendron create the costumes. BIV

board member and teacher at HD Stafford, Madison McArthur, gave BIV the use of the theatre

at the school free of charge. The notice announcing the workshops was shared widely among

local theatre groups as well as going to the Learning Disabilities Association BC mailing list. The

Langley Times ran an article announcing the workshops as well. The workshop was quickly fully

subscribed and had a waitlist of young people wanting to attend. The 12 young participants

perform two plays on Friday, December 7 for their friends and families. Both plays – The Living

Stones and Not Another Snow White Story – were written by Shane Rochon.

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BIV’s 2019 production

In 2019, Bard in the Valley is presenting Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play

will be directed by Darcy J. Knopp. Darcy is an H.D. Stafford Alumni who acquired the majority

of his theatre training from the University of the Fraser Valley. He has been a member of the

BIV team from the beginning when he played Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2010.

He has been onstage with major roles in several of BIV’s productions and has directed three

other BIV productions over the years. Darcy brings with him a passion for theatre that inspires

his cast and crew, and creates delightful entertainment for Bard in the Valley’s audiences.

Auditions are on March 10 and 11, and rehearsals will begin on March 31.

The 2019 season will open with three performances in the Township of Langley – June 28, 29

and 30. The set will then be moved to the Township 7 Winery for performances on July 5, 6 & 7

and 12 & 13. The final eight performances are in Douglas Park on the Spirit Square stage on the

weekends of July 18 to 21 and July 25 to 28.

Focus on the Future

Develop and maintain a BIV social media network and presence.

Continue to increase awareness of Bard in the Valley’s productions through networking and developing relationships with local influencers.

Seek additional funding sources.

Bard in the Valley Board

Once again, it has been my pleasure to work with the talented, generous, creative, hard-

working members of the Bard in the Valley board. They continue to make this venture an

exciting and worthwhile reality.

Diane Gendron

President

Bard in the Valley

November 2018