Bell Shakespeare’s 2014 Season Round-Up

In Bell Shakespare’s 2014 season, there will be four mainstage shows, new exclusive behind-the-scenes access and online dialogue for students, continued work with refugee students and juvenile justice programmes, and celebrations
aplenty for Shakespeare’s 450th birthday.

Bell Shakespeare’s Co-Artistic Director John Bell will start the year with re-discovering The Winter’s Tale. A rarely performed play in Shakespeare’s canon, it will be told through the eyes of Mamillius, the child prince – he will take audiences back to a time when even miracles seemed possible.

Next will be Damien Ryan’s directorial debut with the company: Henry V. It’s a contemporary take on the history play, inspired by the true story of a group of boys who rehearsed plays in a bunker during the Blitz in 1941, and is sure to ring with extra meaning.

Following the success of the Company’s previous Molière tour, Co-Artistic Director Peter Evans presents Justin Fleming’s extraordinarily funny version of Moliere’s Tartuffe. Exclusive to Sydney, the show should be riotously funny and exciting.

For the first time in over 10 years, Bell Shakespeare will also present a new version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titled The Dream, this family-friendly, 90-minute production will be directed by Peter Evans.

Bell Shakespeare Learning continues its impactful work taking Shakespeare to all Australians, including a new schools production of Macbeth, new digital workshops, the third and final year of a residency with refugee and migrant students, juvenile justice programmes in male and female centres and its ever popular schools tour, Actors At Work, taking Shakespeare to both primary and secondary school students around the country.

Bell Shakespeare and Australian Chamber Orchestra will also reunite to tour Janáček’s final composition, the string quartet Intimate Letters, arranged for string orchestra, under the direction of
London Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Gordan Nikolic and Bell Shakespeare’s Co-Artistic Director, Peter Evans.

In 2014, the Company’s developmental arm, Mind’s Eye, will continue to support writers Caleb Lewis (Sleep With Me), Jane Bodie (Savage), Luke Mullins and Lachlan Philpott (Lake Disappointment), Sue Smith (Lear), and Rita Kalnejais (Fidelity) as they fine-tune their new plays.

This is a lively season that embraces the adaptability of classic works, strengthens Bell’s commitment to bringing Shakespeare and theatre to those who might just need it most, and supports new work. It’s sure to be a cracker of a season.

For more information, including ticket and subscriber options, visit www.bellshakespeare.com.au