A renowned Canadian actor and director, Christopher Gaze is the founder and Artistic Director of the Bard on the Beach festival in Vancouver, one of the largest summer theatre festivals in Canada. Gaze is known for his involvement in classical theatre productions, particularly his interpretations of Shakespeare. Read on at vancouver-trend.
Christopher Gaze: A Visionary and Inspiration in Canadian Theatre
Christopher Gaze is best known as the founder and Artistic Director of the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, which celebrated its 35th season in 2024. In addition, he hosts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s popular Tea & Trumpets series and its annual traditional Christmas concerts, both of which are major audience favourites. Christopher is a passionate supporter of British Columbia’s arts community and plays a vital role in the region’s cultural development. His dedication to Bard on the Beach has helped the festival grow into one of Canada’s largest and most influential professional theatre companies. Since 1990, more than two million patrons have attended the festival’s productions, a clear testament to its success and popularity. Christopher’s numerous accolades include the Meritorious Service Medal of Canada, honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, the Mayor’s Arts Award for Theatre, and the Order of British Columbia. These honours reflect not only his talent and dedication to theatre but also his significant contribution to Canada’s cultural landscape.
Gaze’s Beginnings as an Actor and Director
Christopher Gaze was born in England on May 12, 1952. He was educated at the prestigious boarding school Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, England, where from 1960 to 1970, he set his sights on a future in acting. As a young man, he began working with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and, from 1970 to 1973, trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, a launching pad for many famous actors, including Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart, and Pete Postlethwaite. After graduating, Gaze worked in repertory theatre and later travelled to Canada, where he was mentored by the celebrated Shakespearean actor Douglas Campbell.
He spent three seasons at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake before moving to Vancouver in 1983. After observing other tented Shakespeare festivals, Christopher realized the potential of combining outstanding Shakespearean productions with Vancouver’s stunning natural landscapes. This became the founding principle for Bard on the Beach in 1990. Here, actors perform against a breathtaking backdrop of the city, sea, and mountains, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for theatrical performances.
Bard on the Beach: From Humble Beginnings to a Cultural Phenomenon
The first season of Bard on the Beach was a great success. Beginning as an Equity co-op production, the festival staged one play in a rented tent in Vanier Park on a budget of $35,000. For 2025, the festival has a budget of $8 million, and attendance has grown from 6,000 in its first season to over 100,000 annually. The growth has been steady and organic, and the festival has stayed true to its mission of “creating high-quality productions of Shakespeare’s plays that are accessible to a wide audience.” Bard on the Beach has not only gained popularity within the local community but has also become a major tourist attraction for the city, with approximately one-tenth of its patrons coming from outside Metro Vancouver.
Christopher has championed the Young Shakespeareans program, which allows more than 200 young people each summer to train with the company’s actors on the Bard on the Beach stages. The festival also developed the Student Matinee series, which brings up to 8,000 students to performances each year, introducing them to the magic of Shakespeare’s stories and language. Over the past few years, Bard has expanded its educational offerings with programs like Bard in the Classroom, Bard in Your Neighbourhood, and Riotous Youth for young people, students, and teachers. This investment in youth and education makes a vital contribution to developing an informed and enthusiastic “audience of the future” for the performing arts.
Awards and Theatrical Achievements
Christopher is a seasoned actor and director. Throughout his long career in theatre, he has performed in major theatres across Canada, England, and the United States. In 2004, he received the Jessie Richardson Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Playhouse production of Equus, and in 2014, he was honoured with a Career Achievement Award.
In addition to his role as Artistic Director, Christopher has frequently performed and directed on the Bard on the Beach stage. His directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1990 and 2003), As You Like It (1991), The Winter’s Tale (1997), Henry V (2002), and Shakespeare’s Rebel (2015). His favourite roles among the many characters he has played on the Bard stage are Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, the title roles in Richard III and King Lear, and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor. As a talented public speaker, Christopher often shares his insights on theatre and Shakespeare with the community, giving talks to school groups, civic organizations, and local businesses. He collaborates with many other arts organizations, notably hosting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s traditional Christmas concert series since 1993 and its Tea & Trumpets series since 2002.
Christopher also works as a character actor in film and radio and was the narrator for an Emmy Award-winning animated series. He serves on the board of many organizations and plays a key role as a cultural ambassador in British Columbia. As an Olympic ambassador, Christopher had the honour of running with the Olympic torch during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. His extensive list of honours includes an induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, the Meritorious Service Medal of Canada (MSM), honorary doctorates from UBC and SFU, the BC Community Achievement Award (2007), the Gold Medal from the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America (2007), the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for Theatre (2011), and the Order of British Columbia (2012).
A Tragic Trip That Changed Christopher Gaze’s Life
Canadian actor Christopher Gaze still recalls a trip to the Mayan Riviera that was meant to be a pleasant adventure but turned into a nightmare. In November 2010, he went on a dream vacation to Mexico, but an explosion at the Grand Riviera Princess hotel became an event that forever changed his outlook on life. Gaze travelled to Mexico with a friend who had won the all-expenses-paid trip in a radio contest. The vacation was planned as an escape from the dreary Vancouver November—and even coincided with the actor’s birthday. The first few days were perfect: sun, beach, pools, and new friends.
But on the morning of one terrible day, they decided to spend some time apart. Christopher planned a trip to the Mayan ruins with a group of people he had met on the beach, but before leaving, he returned to the resort to withdraw some cash. That’s when the explosion occurred. Despite the traumatic experience, Christopher decided to go ahead with his planned trip to the Mayan ruins. But throughout the day, the actor and his friend were deeply shaken by what had happened. They held hands—something that wasn’t typical for them—as the tragedy they had survived changed their relationship and forced them to rethink many things. The trip left an indelible mark on Gaze’s life. And though many years have passed, the memories of that day remain as vivid and harrowing as ever.
