The Bell Shakespeare Company is an Australian theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare. It was founded in 1990 by John Bell. The company is Australia's only National touring company. 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.

Education

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.

Past Seasons

2008

• Hamlet (directed by Marion Potts and starring Brendan Cowell and with music by Sarah Blasko
• As You Like It (directed by John Bell and starring Saskia Smith and Stephan Phillips
• Anatomy Titus Fall Of Rome, a reworking of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus (by Heiner Müller, directed by Michael Gow and starring John Bell

2007

• Macbeth (Directed by John Bell and starring Sean O'Shea and Linda Cropper)
• Othello (Directed by Marion Potts and starring Wayne Blair and Marcus Graham)
• The Government Inspector (Directed by John Bell and starring Darren Gilshenan and William Zappa)

2006

• The Tempest (Directed by Peter Evens and starring John Bell and Freya Stafford)
• The Merchant of Venice (Directed by Anna Volska and starring John Hannan and Thomas Campbell)
• The Comedy of Errors (Directed by John Bell and starring Sean O'Shea and Christopher Stoller)
• Romeo and Juliet (Directed by John Bell and starring Julian Garner and Chloe Armstrong)
• Moby-Dick (adapted and performed by John Bell)

References

• John Bell (2004). John Bell : the time of my life. Sydney: Currency Press. ISBN 1741141346.

External links

• Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company