Shakespeare By The Sea is a Halifax classic and one of the many things I love about this city in the summer. What better way to make use of a gorgeous outdoor setting littered with historical forts than to turn them into al fresco stages six days a week?
Yep - that's right: these hardworking actors put on three shows per season that all run at the same time. One night, they're a playing card from Alice in Wonderland, the next afternoon they're a Merry Wife of Windsor, and that evening they're casualties in Titus Andronicus. So all summer you get to pick from their daily show selection based on exactly what you're in the mood for. Funny ('ha ha'), Shakespearean funny ('a ha!'), or Shakespearean brutality ('yiiiiiikes').
But that's just one small portion of the many beauties that it SBTS. The outdoor auditorium, so to speak, is outfitted with chairs available to rent for the evening ($2) in case you don't feel like lugging you're own through the park, or you can plop down in the blanket seating area in the front. Whatever you do, bring blankets and sweaters. No matter how warm it is during the day, that ocean breeze cools you down quickly after sunset.
There are port-a-potties on site which is to say you should go before you get to the park, there are small concessions sold on site like chips and candy but plenty of people bring there own (no love to the people eating the worst smelling 'barbecue garlic plague of the earth' flavoured something or other next to me last night), but other than that, this is all about the performance, baby!
Entrance is cash-only with a suggested donation of $15. Now, a word on this: don't be a jerk. $15 is pretty much what you'd pay to go see a movie at Empire. This is not a movie. This is live theatre and these people work their asses off. If you can afford the $15, pay them the $15. Or more. They deserve it. read more