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Canberra Today 12°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Bell announces season of Shakespearean showstoppers

ALL the world’s a stage as Bell Shakespeare proclaims a season of “epic productions” for its 25th anniversary next year.

Founder John Bell
Founder John Bell

Small matter that the program’s historical rundown has the company’s very first season in 1991 as having been staged in the “Canberra Agricultural Centre” (it was the National Aquarium), the national capital will get a fair share of these epic offerings.

Indeed the company is going over the top with what it’s calling “an irresistible array of sublime works that showcase Shakespeare’s genius and infinite variety,” and the works they’ve chosen are all the big ones for actors and directors alike.

Zahra Newman plays Rosalind
Zahra Newman plays Rosalind
Bell’s co-artistic director, Peter Evans, takes on “As You like It,” with Zahra Newman as Rosalind and Bell himself as Jacques. April 7-18 in Canberra.

Damien Ryan, one of the company’s hottest properties, will direct   a new production of “Hamlet” (October 13-24 in Canberra) while Bell, who has performed in the play three times, will for the first time direct “The Tempest,” for Sydney only.

BSC’s renewed public program includes “Script to Stage,” a director’s presentation aligned with “As You like It” and “The Tempest,” while “In Conversation” will be a series of talks with John Bell, ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on contemporary culture, to the history and impact of Australian theatre.

Together with the SSO at Sydney Opera House, Bell will direct excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet,” as Simone Young conducts music from Prokofiev’s ballet score.

“The Art of Shakespeare” will be an exhibition of artworks inspired by Shakespeare, celebrating 25 years of Bell Shakespeare, to be exhibited nationally and available for sale.

For the first time, Bell Shakespeare will host a Photographer in Residence, offering him or her an opportunity to document the 25th year. Applications open later in 2014.

The company’s learning program will include   a new mainstage schools show of “Romeo and Juliet” directed by James Evans with new social media access and a new Actors at Work show for Years 3–6 titled “Just Macbeth! (Abridged)”.

In 2014, the Company’s development arm, “Mind’s Eye”, sees a focus on new writing and dramaturgy as Justin Fleming works on another Molière adaptation and Kate Mulvany works dramaturgically on one of Shakespeare’s history plays.

The year 25th Anniversary Gala on Friday, November 27, 2015 will be held in conjunction with the Sydney season of “Hamlet”, with individual tickets and tables of 10 on sale from mid-2015.

Bell Shakespeare’s mission, its founder says, “has remained as strong as it was on that first day back in 1990; keeping the classics alive, make them our own and share them with our fellow Australians, wherever they might be on this vast continent.”

For more information visit bellshakespeare.com.au

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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