A madcap farcical comedy featuring one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comic characters, Sir John Falstaff

Feeling the pinch of an empty wallet and seeking to reverse his fortunes, the rotund and vainglorious knight Sir John Falstaff overconfidently sets out to seduce not one, but two, well-to-do married women. When the wives discover his scheme, they devise a series of plots to give Falstaff the comeuppance he richly deserves, while also toying with the suspicions of their jealous husbands. Meanwhile, in the subplot, Anne Page, daughter to one of the wives, must fend off a bevy of ridiculous suitors, including a fantastical French doctor and a rich but brainless country bumpkin, in order to find true love.

Transported to an early 1960s U.S. Atlantic seaboard setting, our production sees the play’s Ford and Page families reimagined as prominent mafioso. With The Honeymooners meeting The Sopranos meeting Shakespeare in a high-energy, fast-paced romp, suffice to say that the jinks will be high and the shenanigans truly delightful!

The Merry Wives of Windsor will unfold on a purpose-built stage on the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Fredericton, in a traditional fixed-seating staging.

Show dates and times: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Reduced price preview performance: June 17.

Opening night performance: June 18.

Regular performances: Saturdays and Mondays, June 21, 23, 28, 30 and July 5 and 7.

All performances begin at 8:00 PM, but patrons should arrive by 7:45, especially if purchasing tickets on site. Dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair to sit on (we’ll have a few loaners on hand if you don’t have one).

Run time: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, with no intermission.

Show dates and times: Macbeth

The Merry Wives of Windsor will run in repertory with our second production, The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Reduced price preview performance: Thursday, June 19.

Regular performances: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, June 20-July 6 (June 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, and July 2, 3, 4, and 6).

All performances of Macbeth begin at 7:30 PM in the Fredericton Botanic Garden, but patrons should arrive by 7:15 to make it to the play’s starting point on time.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be available at the door (cash preferred, but debit/credit purchase also available) at our box office near the corner of Church and Queen Streets, or can be purchased in advance online at

Bard in the Barracks

Ticket Prices:

Regular Performances

All tickets online* and at the door will be “choose your own” ticket price, with available options of:

$15 = Discounted Price–recommended for: Students, Seniors, Underwaged, those attending as part of a family group (of 4 or more), those attending both productions who have already purchased a Regular or Full Price ticket for Macbeth.

$25 = Regular Price

$35 = Full Price (Patron/Supporter)—recommended for: those who would like to bundle their ticket purchase with a donation to help support the work of Bard in the Barracks. Comes with a reserved front row seat for The Merry Wives of Windsor (provided ticket purchased before 5 PM on show day), a package of commemorative 2025 season merchandise and 3 complimentary snack items (any combination of food or drinks) from our concession stand.

Children 9 and under: Free.

*A service fee of $1.50-$2.50 per ticket (depending on price category) will be added to all online purchases.

Please note that the above categories are not binding or exclusive. “Choose your price” means that you can choose a ticket tier that suits your budget, whether you’re working hard to make ends meet, or you’re a longtime Bard in the Barracks fan who’d like to support our work at a higher ticket price to help us make ends meet!

For those coming as a group (couples, families, a group of friends), feel free to choose tickets at different price points to reflect your budget as a group or as individuals.

And if you’re taking in both our plays this year (highly recommended!) feel free to mix and match ticket prices between the shows

Preview Performance (June 17):

All tickets for our June 17 preview performance will be Pay-What-You-Will (minimum price $5).

FAQ: What is a preview? It’s the final dress rehearsal for the play and first time with an audience for the show, allowing the cast and crew a chance to make final adjustments to the performance.

Audience numbers will be capped at 120, so buying advance tickets or showing up early is advisable on fair weather nights in particular. However, if you’re willing to risk a little rain in return for a more intimate audience experience, coming on nights when the weather is a bit iffy (or any night earlier in our run) is a great idea (and means you won’t get stuck at the back..).

Advance tickets purchased for rained-out performances can be used for subsequent shows or returned for refund. If rain forces the cancellation of a performance already in progress, audience members can return to a subsequent performance for free admittance,or can opt for a ticket refund if the stoppage occurs prior to halfway through the show. For more on our weather policy, see below.

What to Bring: A lawn chair to sit on (we’ll have a few loaners on hand if you don’t have one). Raincoat and hat if threat of rain. And since the mosquitoes might visit us for the end of the show, some insect repellent might come in handy.

What Not to Bring: Your dog. You love him; we probably would too. But audience members will be at close quarters, so for the safety and comfort of all involved, we ask you to leave Fido at home. For the same reason please don’t bring a lot of stuff—it will take up limited audience space.

Is it Suitable for the Kids? The Merry Wives of Windsor features plenty of comedy, action, and slapstick to keep the younger set interested, but you are the best judge of your child’s interest in a 90-minute Shakespeare play. Please note that the play contains some instances of mild sexual innuendo.

Amenities, Food and Drink at the Cathedral: Bard in the Barracks will operate a small concession stand at the show offering some basic snacks and beverages. There is a water fountain located across the street from the Cathedral. Washrooms located one block away at the Cathedral Hall.

What to Wear: Dress for the weather, including a raincoat and hat if threat of rain.

Our rainy weather policy and procedures: Every effort will be made to avoid cancelling the show. We cancel performances very rarely, and only in case of sustained rain or threat of thunderstorms at show time. Rain earlier in the day (provided it stops by 6:30 PM and unless of the torrential variety) will not cause show cancellations. The play will go ahead in case of intermittent light rain/drizzle, so audience members are encouraged to dress appropriately.

Because we try to avoid cancellations, decisions on whether to proceed with the show will sometimes not be made until quite close to show time (around 7 PM). For updates on show status, please call our box office line at 506 292-2252. Weather-related show updates will also be sent out via X (follow us: @BardBarracks) and posted on this website.

In the event of rainouts on the final weekend of the show, an additional performance may be added to the run on Tuesday July 8. Check this site for updates. Better yet, come see the show early on to avoid final weekend rainout heartbreak!

Questions? Contact us at 506 292-2252 or message us on Facebook. Artistic Director Len Falkenstein can be reached at lfalken@unb.ca.