The Winter’s Tale

A moving tragicomic story of jealousy, betrayal, and reconciliation.

When Leontes, the king of Sicilia, impulsively accuses Queen Hermione of adultery with the Bohemian king, Polixenes, he shocks those closest to him. Loyal friends and family are cast aside, and a newborn’s life hangs in the balance. Sixteen years later, however, hope appears for the mending of old wounds in the blooming love between a Bohemian prince and a shepherdess whose destiny is greater than either could imagine. As the young lovers stumble into a tangled family history, the stage is set for one of Shakespeare’s most magical and surprising endings.

The Winter’s Tale’s unique blend of courtly tragedy and country comedy features lively characters, Shakespeare’s most notorious stage direction (“Exit pursued by a bear”), songs and dances, and plenty of plot twists. A perennial audience favourite, The Winter’s Tale will be performed in an intimate, accessible format in a single location under a large pine tree in Odell Park.

Show dates and times: The Winter’s Tale

Reduced price preview performance: Thursday, June 18.

Opening night performance: June 19.

Regular performances: Thursdays, Fridays, and Mondays, June 19-July 3 (June 19, 22, 25, 26, 29, and July 2 and 3).

All performances of The Winter’s Tale begin at 7:30 PM in Odell Park, near the main parking lot at Rookwood Drive and Waggoner’s Lane, but patrons should arrive by 7:15 to make it to the play’s starting point on time, especially if purchasing tickets on site.

Dress for the weather and bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. The entire performance takes place in a single spot, with no walking required between scenes.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Show dates and times: Love’s Labour’s Lost

The Winter’s Tale will run in repertory with our second production, Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Reduced price preview performance: June 20.

Opening night performance: June 21.

Regular performances: Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays, June 21, 23, 27, 28, 30 and July 4 and 5.

All performances begin at 7:30 PM outside Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Fredericton, but patrons should arrive by 7:15, especially if purchasing tickets on site. Dress for the weather and bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on (we’ll have a few loaners on hand if you don’t have one). The play takes place at five different locations, all on the grounds of the Cathedral, with short walks between scenes.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be available at the door (cash preferred, but debit/credit purchase also available) at our box office near at the Odell Park parking lot at the corner of Waggoner’s Lane and Rookwood Drive,or can be purchased in advance online from our website.

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 The Winter’s Tale.

$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 small selection of commemorative 2026 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 $2 per ticket 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 18):

All tickets for our June 18 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..). For information on ticket availability, phone 506 238-3038.

Advance tickets purchased for rained-out performances can be used for subsequent shows or returned for refund (call or email our house manager at ella.murphy@unb.ca  to arrange your 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 blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Raincoat and hat if threat of rain. And since the odd mosquito has been known to inhabit the park, some insect repellent if you have some to bring.

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 Winter’s Tale features quite a bit of comedy, action, music and dance, and plot surprises to engage younger people, but you are the best judge of your child’s interest in a full-length Shakespeare play. The play contains accusations of sexual infidelity, threats of violence, and reports of deaths, but none of those things accused, threatened, or reported take place onstage.

Amenities, Food and Drink at Odell Park: Bard in the Barracks will operate a small concession stand at the show offering some simple snacks and beverages. There is a water fountain by the parking lot and public washrooms are located nearby at Odell Park Lodge.

Accessibility Notes for those with physical limitations or disabilities: The play takes place in a single spot in the lower part of the park near the parking lot and lodge. Audiences will have to cross a grassy but flat field to reach the stage location. Accessible washrooms are located nearby at Odell Park Lodge.

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 506 238-3038. Weather-related show updates will also be posted on our Facebook page (follow us: @BardintheBarracks) and 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 Monday, July 6. Check this site for updates. Better yet, come see the show early on to avoid final weekend rainout heartbreak!

Questions? Contact us at 506 458-7406 or message us on Facebook or Instagram. Artistic Director Len Falkenstein can be reached at lfalken@unb.ca.