Sounding The Bell for The Bard in 2015

It doesn’t seem possible that 2015 marks the 25^th anniversary of the Bell Shakespeare Company, truly our only National theatre company, or that Bell still heads the company that bears his name, though he has grown from leading man to elder statesmen. These days he has a co-Artistic Director in Peter Evans, but it is still Bell’s vision at the core of the company.

Bell Shakespeare has played to nearly 2.5 million Australians. An incredible achievement for an Australian theatre company whose mission 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.’ said John Bell, Co-Artistic Director.

And yet, some 25 years ago, there were more doubters than believers, and many predicted that it wouldn’t last more than two seasons. Not only did the remarkable John Bell and his company prove people wrong, but they redefined the work of the Bard and made it accessible to people who would never have believed they would truly tolerate Shakespeare, let alone love it. That is a remarkable achievement in a time when Shakespeare is considered “old hat” by many, or treated too reverentially by others. Bell and his creative cohorts went back to the intent of the writer, and recognised that, despite the breadth and depth of these universal stories, Shakespeare was essentially writing entertainment for the masses. That meant not shying away from the sexual innuendo and bawdiness (Shakespeare, for all his brilliance, could have written a great “Carry On” movie) but rather stress those elements as being part of the entertainment in order to hit the audience with the deeper moments and jolt them out of their amusement. Moreover, there was a conscious decision not to load the productions with heavy period costuming and sets, but to increase the accessibility by making the plays contemporary. The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that his themes are timeless, and thus always contemporary.

And so to the 2015 season – and if there isn’t something here to whet your appetite, then you are very hard to please indeed.

The year begins with As You Like It, directed by Bell Shakespeare’s Co-Artistic Director Peter Evans, fresh from a stellar year (Tartuffe, The Dream, Intimate Letters) with a cast led by the exuberant Zahra Newman (Malthouse and Belvoir’s The Government Inspector). John Bell is taking on the melancholy role of Jaques and one of Shakespeare’s most famous passages; ‘All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players’.

Damien Ryan, off the back of directing the critically acclaimed Henry V for Bell Shakespeare in 2014, will deliver a new production of Hamlet, infused with the passion, contemplation and emotion that Shakespeare’s compelling poetry cries out for. Josh McConville (Sydney Theatre Company’s Mojo) and Matilda Ridgway (Sport For Jove’s A Doll’s House) will delve into the complexity, violence, philosophical reflection, madness and maddening seduction of this epic play.

Rounding out the season, John Bell, having performed in The Tempest three times, will for the first time direct this enchanting tale. A superb cast led by Brian Lipson (Melbourne Theatre Company’s The Crucible), along with Julie Lynch’s design, will capture the lightness and beauty of one of Shakespeare’s last and greatest works. Those of us who love this heartachingly beautiful play will have to wait until late in the year, but it will be worth it.

There’s also a renewed Public Programme, a new collaboration with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Simone Young, The Art Of Shakespeare exhibition, its first Photographer in Residence, continued dedication to Shakespeare in Education, including a new mainstage schools show of Romeo And Juliet, and new inspired writing and dramaturgy with its Mind’s Eye programme.

In the Education programme for the first time, schools across Australia can now access contemporary Australian performances of Shakespearean works, in a digital form. In partnership with Bell Shakespeare, online education portal ABC Splash has today released a new video series Shakespeare Unbound.

The video series is made up of 12 scenes from six of Shakespeare’s most famous plays: Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar and The Tempest. These videos are paired with 12 commentaries from the director and cast that unpack the meaning of the work in a way that is relevant for Australian students.

Each scene has been brought to life on film by some of Australia’s best known theatre actors, including John Bell, Tom Conroy, Ivan Donato, Kate Mulvany, Eryn-Jean Norvill, Damien Ryan, Hazem Shammas, Damien Strouthos and Miranda Tapsell.

Mark Scott, ABC Managing Director, said: “Bell Shakespeare’s work in schools across Australia is well known and now every school in Australia will be able to see some of Australia’s best actors bring Shakespeare to life in a way I am sure will leave a lasting impression.  It’s an exciting initiative and I think shows that we are entering an exciting era for digital education that will empower both teachers and students.”

Joanna Erskine, Head of Education at Bell Shakespeare, commented: “Through our 24 year history of taking Shakespeare’s work to schools around Australia, we know that teachers are crying out for high-quality Shakespeare resources. Particularly those in regional and remote areas are constantly telling us that they wish they could show their students how Shakespeare is meant to sound, how it should be performed. They want accessible Australian content that is clear and contemporary.”

Script To Stage, which is a directors presentation aligned with As You Like It and The Tempest. 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. Details about these Programmes will be announced late in 2014.

In an exciting new collaboration, Bell Shakespeare will share the stage with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, presenting a new arrangement of words and music. Bell Shakespeare’s Co-Artistic Director, John Bell, will direct excerpts from the play, Romeo And Juliet, as renowned conductor Simone Young weaves music from Prokofiev’s thrilling ballet score through the performance.

The Art Of Shakespeare will see up to a dozen renowned visual artists create artworks inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, celebrating 25 years of Bell Shakespeare. These artworks will be exhibited nationally and available for sale.

Shakespeare’s work is not elitist and was never intended to be only for those who could afford exorbitant theatre prices. Thanks to Bell Shakespeare, the work has been opened up to everyone. We’re so lucky that John Bell put his career and reputation on the line 25 years ago. No wonder he has been named a National Treasure.

Coral Drouyn

www.bellshakespeare.com.au

THE PRODUCTIONS

AS YOU LIKE IT

Director: Peter Evans

With George Banders,
 John Bell, Gareth Davies,
 Alan Dukes, Zahra Newman, Kelly Paterniti, Dorje Michael Swallow, Tony Taylor & Abi Tucker.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, PLAYHOUSE


Previews 21 February – 24 February

Season 25 February – 28 March

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE, THE PLAYHOUSE

Preview 7 April


Season 8 April – 18 April

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE, FAIRFAX STUDIO

Preview 23 April


Season 24 April – 10 May

HAMLET

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE, FAIRFAX STUDIO


Preview 14 July

Season 15 July – 25 July

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE, THE PLAYHOUSE


Preview 13 October


Season 14 October – 24 October

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, PLAYHOUSE


Previews 27 October – 28 October

Season 29 October – 6 December

THE TEMPEST

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, PLAYHOUSE

Director: John Bell. Designer: Julie Lynch.

With Robert Alexander, Matthew Backer, Felix Gentle, Brian Lipson, Arky Michael, Hazem Shammas, Maeliosa Stafford, Damien Strouthos & Eloise Winestock.

Previews 19 August – 20 August

Season 21 August – 18 September

Images: John Bell and Peter Evans; Zahra Newman (As You Like It); Matilda Ridway and Josh McConville (Hamlet) & Eloise Winestock and Brian Lipson (The Tempest). Photographer: Pierre Toussaint