In an announcement today, Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze calls this season's bold, Beatles-inspired As You Like It "an unprecedented hit" for the festival.

As a result, the summer Shakespeare celebration in Vanier Park is extended that show's run. Due to popular demand, it will now end September 28, which means audiences have the chance to buy tickets to four more shows.

"We’re breaking all our attendance records, and all four of our plays have resonated with critics and patrons," Gaze explained in the press announcement today. "But As You Like It is a unique phenomenon. Its audiences are cheering with enthusiasm and excitement and it’s become a huge favourite with people of all ages, and from dedicated Shakespeare fans to those who don’t know Shakespeare at all! Performances are close to sold out through to September, and we want as many people as possible to experience the delights of this remarkable production. And we know a number of our patrons are seeing the show more than once! So we’ve made the decision to add shows, and extend our season by an extra week in Vanier Park – a first for the Festival.”

In our review of the production,  Straight theatre critic Kathleen Oliver raved, "I had so much fun at As You Like It that I’ll go see it again—if there are any tickets to be had."

Some of director Daryl Cloran's more entertaining touches include the addition of 25 Beatles songs, played live on instruments by the multitalented cast; a full-on wrestling match that precedes the show; the relocation of the work to 1960s, hippie-happy Vancouver and the Okanagan; and a collaboration with funky Fluevog shoes.

Find ticket information for the newly added shows, September 25 to 28 evenings, here.

The Festival’s productions of Macbeth, also on the BMO Mainstage, and Lysistrata, on the Howard Family Stage, will both close on Thursday, September 13. Closing night for Timon of Athens, on the Howard Family Stage, will be Sunday, September 9.