Bell Shakespeare

Bell Shakespeare
Founded 1990
Founder John Bell
Headquarters Sydney, Australia
Key people
 Peter Evans (Artistic Director), Gill Perkins (General Manager)
Products Theatre Productions, Learning Programs
Website https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/

Bell Shakespeare is an Australian theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare, his contemporaries and other classics.

The Bell Shakespeare vision is to create theatre that allows audiences of all walks of life to see themselves reflected and transfomed through the prism of great writing. They are Australia's only national theatre company[1][2], and perform three mainstage productions per year. In 2018 they will perform Antony and Cleopatra, which will tour to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, Julius Caesar, which as the 2018 National Tour will travel to 27 venues across Australia, and The Misanthrope which will play in Sydney. Bell Shakespeare's Artistic Director is Peter Evans[3][4].

One of the Company's artistic goals is "to use Shakespeare as Australians"[5], and they are well known for using contemporary styles to make Shakespeare accessible for modern audiences[6].

Company History

Founded by John Bell in 1990, Bell Shakespeare began as a theatre company dedicated to producing the plays of William Shakespeare in a way that was relevant and exciting to Australian audiences[7]. With the support of an enlightened philanthropist, the late Tony Gilbert AM, and a small number of imaginative corporate and private supporters, Bell Shakespeare was able to mount productions and attract audiences[8].

Now over 25 years later, Bell Shakespeare enjoys the fruits of its labour: a history rich with legends of the stage; the establishment of our creative development arm, which ensures our artistic vibrancy; theatre, education and community programs characterized by unrivaled national reach and impact; and a loyal and passionate audience that has made the Company that began in a circus tent into a national icon.

Bell Shakespeare is listed as a Major Festival in the book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World[9].

In 2016, the Australian Federal Government announced a $1 million contribution to the Bell Shakespeare capital campaign, which will help the Company secure a permanent home at Sydney's Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay[10].

Artistic leadership

In 2012, John Bell announced the promotion of associate artistic director Peter Evans to the position of co-artistic director[11]. In 2015, John Bell retired from the Company, and Peter Evans was made sole Artistic Director[12].

Learning

Since its foundation, Bell Shakespeare has had one unchangeable vision - to make Shakespeare accessible for all Australians, regardless of age, geographic location, or socioeconomic challenges.

Bell Shakespeare continues this vision with a range of learning opportunities for students and teachers in every Australian state and territory throughout the year. This includes In-School Performances by The Players. Inspired by the troupe of actors who appear in Hamlet, Bell Shakespeare's Players have been performing abridged adaptions of Shakespeare's works in schools since 1991[8]. A number of tailored workshops, masterclasses and residencies are also available to make Shakespeare accessible to students in an immersive and fun way. Each year, the Company performs a mainstage show specifically for students. In 2018, the In-Theatres production will be Romeo and Juliet. Bell Shakespeare also provides Professional Learning for teachers.

A range of scholarships to support students and teachers are also provided. This includes the John Bell Scholarship, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students living in regional or remote areas who are interested in a career as a performer, and the Regional Teacher Mentorship which is a fully funded year-long mentorship for teachers in regional, rural and remote Australian schools[13].

Productions

Recent Productions

2018

2017

2016

2015

Production history by play

List of Bell Shakespeare productions (not including education or children's productions or special events):[14]

References

  1. ↑ "StageCenta : Everyshow - Everyday - Everywhere". StageCenta. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  2. ↑ "Bell Shakespeare". www.ampag.com.au. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  3. ↑ "Staff & Board - Bell Shakespeare". Bell Shakespeare. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  4. ↑ Hook, Chris (2015). "After a long handover Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans reveals his first season". Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Vision, Mission & Artistic Goals - Bell Shakespeare". Bell Shakespeare. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  6. ↑ Litson, Jo (2014). "Bell Shakespeare turns 1664 classic Tartuffe into a modern comic masterpiece". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Bell, John (2004). John Bell – The Time of My Life. Sydney: Currency Press. ISBN 1-74114-134-6.
  8. 1 2 "History Of Bell Shakespeare - Bell Shakespeare". Bell Shakespeare. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  9. ↑ Shakespeare festivals around the world. Gregio, Marcus D. [Philadelphia]: Xlibris. 2004. ISBN 1413459072. OCLC 85474058.
  10. ↑ WBPA. "Belle Shakespear. New Home at Pier 2/3". www.walshbay.com.au. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  11. ↑ Dow, Steve (4 October 2012). "Almost 'fat enough', Bell takes on Falstaff and hints at retirement". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ↑ "Artistic Director - Bell Shakespeare". Bell Shakespeare. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  13. ↑ "'Shakespeare intended it be performed': The key to helping children understand his texts". ABC News. 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  14. ↑ "AusStage – Bell Shakespeare". AusStage. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.