Bell Shakespeare

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.{{cite book|title=John Bell – The Time of My Life|author=Bell, John|publisher=Currency Press|year=2004|isbn=1-74114-134-6|location=Sydney}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/about-us/history/|title=History Of Bell Shakespeare – Bell Shakespeare|work=Bell Shakespeare|access-date=2018-05-15}}

Bell Shakespeare is listed as a Major Festival in the book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World.{{Cite book|title=Shakespeare festivals around the world|year=2004|publisher=Xlibris|last=Gregio|first=Marcus D.|isbn=1413459072|oclc=85474058}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walshbay.com.au/news/277-belle-shakespear-new-home-at-pier-2-3|title=Belle Shakespear. New Home at Pier 2/3|last=WBPA|website=www.walshbay.com.au|access-date=2018-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112538/https://www.walshbay.com.au/news/277-belle-shakespear-new-home-at-pier-2-3|archive-date=15 May 2018|url-status=dead}}

In 2012, John Bell announced the promotion of associate artistic director Peter Evans to the position of co-artistic director.{{cite news|last=Dow|first=Steve|title=Almost 'fat enough', Bell takes on Falstaff and hints at retirement|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/almost-fat-enough-bell-takes-on-falstaff-and-hints-at-retirement-20121004-2710o.html|date=4 October 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} In 2015, John Bell retired from the company, and Peter Evans was made sole artistic director.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/about-us/artistic-directors/|title=Artistic Director – Bell Shakespeare|work=Bell Shakespeare|access-date=2018-05-15}}

Bell Shakespeare is Australia's only national theatre company.{{Cite web|url=https://stagecenta.com/companyid/601/CompanyShows.aspx|title=Bell Shakespeare shows|website=StageCenta|access-date=2018-05-15}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ampag.com.au/brand/bell-shakespeare|title=Bell Shakespeare|website=www.ampag.com.au|access-date=2018-05-15}} One of the company's artistic goals is "to use Shakespeare as Australians",{{Cite news|url=https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/about-us/vision/|title=Vision, Mission & Artistic Goals|work=Bell Shakespeare|access-date=2018-05-15}} and Bell Shakespeare is well known for using contemporary styles to make Shakespeare accessible for modern audiences.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/bell-shakespeare-turns-1664-classic-tartuffe-into-a-modern-comic-masterpiece/news-story/1cf495b98a4b1cc7059083025e005d3e|title=Bell Shakespeare turns 1664 classic Tartuffe into a modern comic masterpiece|last=Litson|first=Jo|date=2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=15 May 2018}}

Each year they perform a mainstage season consisting of three theatre productions, including an annual national tour, and a learning program to support students, teachers and communities nationally. Bell Shakespeare's artistic director is{{when|date=January 2025}} Peter Evans{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/arts/after-a-long-handover-bell-shakespeare-artistic-director-peter-evans-reveals-his-first-season/news-story/5cd79bb6d32a06345fc0ad3bf235c49e|title=After a long handover Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans reveals his first season|last=Hook|first=Chris|date=2015|access-date=15 May 2018}} and the Executive Director is Gill Perkins.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/about-us/staff-board/|title=Staff & Board|work=Bell Shakespeare|access-date=2018-05-15}}

Bell Shakespeare has 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.[https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/whats-on/educations/the-players/ In-school performances], bellshakespeare.com.au 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. 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 creates a theatre production specifically for students. 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-08/teachers-learn-more-hands-on-approach-to-shakespeare/9629540|title='Shakespeare intended it be performed': The key to helping children understand his texts|date=2018-04-08|work=ABC News|access-date=2018-05-15}}

The main studio and theatre space is at Bell Shakespeare's premises is The Neilson Nutshell, which is available for hire.{{cite web | title=The Neilson Nutshell | website=Bell Shakespeare | date=20 April 2023 | url=https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/the-neilson-nutshell | access-date=7 January 2025}}

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• Hamlet (2015), directed by Damien Ryan and starring Josh McConville.
• Romeo and Juliet (2016), directed by Peter Evans and starring Kelly Paterniti and Alex Williams.
• Othello (2016), directed by Peter Evans and starring Ray Chong Nee and Yalin Ozucelik.
• The Literati (2016), directed by Lee Lewis and starring Kate Mulvany and Miranda Tapsell.
• Richard 3 (2017), directed by Peter Evans and starring Kate Mulvany.
• The Merchant Of Venice (2017), directed by Anne-Louise Sarks and starring Mitchell Butel and Jessica Tovey.
• Antony and Cleopatra (2018), directed by Peter Evans and starring Catherine McClements.
• Julius Caesar (2018), directed by James Evans and starring Kenneth Ransom.
• The Misanthrope (2018), directed by Lee Lewis and starring Danielle Cormack.
• The Miser (2019), directed by Peter Evans and starring John Bell.
• Much Ado About Nothing (2019), directed by James Evans and starring Zindzi Okenyo.
• Titus Andronicus (2019), directed by Adena Jacobs and starring Jane Montgomery Griffiths and Melita Jurisic.
• Hamlet (2020), directed by Peter Evans and starring Harriet Gordon-Anderson and Lisa McCune.
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (2021), directed by Peter Evans and starring Jane Montgomery Griffiths and Gabrielle Scawthorn.
• The Lovers (2022), Bell Shakespeare's first musical, based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Shaun Rennie.

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List of Bell Shakespeare productions (not including Learning productions or special events):{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/organisation/590|title=Bell Shakespeare|website=AusStage|access-date=24 February 2017}}

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• Antony and Cleopatra (2001, 2018)
• As You Like It (2003, 2018, 2015)
• The Comedy of Errors (2002, 2013)
• Coriolanus (1996)
• Hamlet (1991, 2003, 2008, 2015, 2020)
• Henry IV [Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2] (1988, 2013)
• Henry V (1999, 2014)
• Julius Caesar (2001, 2011, 2018)
• King Lear (1998, 2010)
• Macbeth (1994, 1997, 2007, 2012, 2023)
• Measure for Measure (2005)
• The Merchant of Venice (1991, 1999, 2006, 2017)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (2000, 2004, 2014, 2021)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1996, 2000, 2011, 2018)
• Othello (2007, 2016)
• Pericles (1995, 2009)
• Richard III (1992, 2002, 2017)
• Romeo and Juliet (1993, 1999, 2006, 2016, 2023)
• The Taming of the Shrew (1994, 2002, 2009)
• The Tempest (1997, 2001, 2006, 2015)
• Titus Andronicus (2019)
• Troilus and Cressida (2000)
• Twelfth Night (1995, 2004, 2010, 2023)
• The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2005)
• Wars of the Roses [Henry VI, Part 1; Henry VI, Part 2; Henry VI, Part 3] (2005)
• The Winter's Tale (1997, 2014)
• Venus and Adonis (2008)

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• Long Day's Journey into Night (1999)
• Dance of Death (2000)
• Shakespeare's R & J (2001)
• The Servant of Two Masters (2003)
• Moby Dick (2005)
• The Government Inspector (2007)
• Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome: A Shakespeare Commentary (2008)
• The Alchemist (2009)
• Faustus (2011)
• The Duchess of Malfi (2012)
• The School for Wives (2012)
• Phèdre (2013)
• Tartuffe (2014)
• The Literati (2016)
• The Misanthrope (2018)
• The Miser (2019)
• One Man in His Time (2021)
• In a Nutshell (2022)
• The Lovers (2022), based on A Midsummer Night's Dream

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• [http://collections.artscentremelbourne.com.au/paminter/imu.php?request=browse&irn=1895#listing Bell Shakespeare collection] at the Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

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Category:Shakespearean theatre companies in Australia

Category:1990 establishments in Australia

Category:Theatre in Sydney