Bell Shakespeare is an Australian theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare. It was founded in 1990 by John Bell.[1].
Bell Shakespeare is Australia's only national touring theatre company. Its current practice is to tour three mainstage productions to each Australian state in each year, plus a variety of education programs. In 2011, for example, the mainstage productions are Much Ado About Nothing, Faustus (an adaptation of Marlowe's Doctor Faustus ), and Julius Caesar, and the major education programs are Romeo and Juliet and The Hamlet Seminar - 2B ≠ 2B. Other education activities include the Actors at Work program, masterclasses, and workshops for teachers and students.[2]
The company, rather than using Renaissance costumes and sets, use contemporary or anachronistic styles. Unlike many other producers, Bell has his actors accentuating and emphasising the many sexual innuendos and bawdy moments that are in original texts.
The Bell Shakespeare Company is listed as a Major Festival in the book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World by Marcus D. Gregio (ed.), 2004, ISBN 978-1413459067.
Contents |
The Bell Shakespeare Company has a well-developed education program, and tour their Actors at Work program nationally. The 2007 season was written by Ned Manning and directed by Christopher Hurrell.
Bell Shakespeare also offer scholarships and other experiences for both students and teachers, such as a student program that allows the winners to spend a week with company members as they prepare for plays.