The 32nd season of Bard on the Beach, “Press Play”, is underway, with the release of its first feature film Done/Undone.
Originally commissions as a stage play for the 2021 Bard season, Done/Undone, written by Kate Besworth, switched to a filmed production once the season was cancelled due to ongoing pandemic restrictions. Directed by Arthi Chandra, Done/Undone stars Bard veteran performers, Charlie Gallant and Harveen Sandhu. In a series of vignettes, filmed mostly around Burnaby’s Shadbolt Centre, the duo brilliantly create a world of characters, including two actors opening in Hamlet, The Bard himself, a pair of academics in deep debate, theatre-going couple with differing opinions on Shakespeare’s appeal, and others within the Shakespeare realm.
Sparking the debate within the film, Done/Undone asks a challenging question for a Shakespeare festival: do the Bard’s plays stand the test of time, and should some not be staged anymore? But, says Bard Artistic Director Christopher Gaze, “We’re glad to embrace the debates that are taking place in the broader world. And much to our delight, this project brings an original and accessible new perspective to those complicated questions. We believe its spirit, wit and bravery will resonate with many people and points of view.”
Addressing questions of race, sexuality, and which voices are heard and valued (questions that are also acknowledged within Bard’s organizational values and its Company Commitments), in a humorous and ingenious way, Done/Undone doesn’t take itself too seriously but not trivializing the debate.
Done/Undone runs 76 minutes, and is broadcasting on-demand on OVERTURE+ streaming platform, until September 30, 2021. Book tickets to view on bardonthebeach.org