BAYVIEW College students were treated to an immersive experience with a visit from the Bell Shakespeare Players.
The Players performed Macbeth The Rehearsal and Such Sweet Sorrow for students in years 7 - 10. The visit was timely for year 10 students enriching their understanding of their current study of William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy Macbeth.
While studying Shakespeare is not everyone’s cup of tea, three actors from ‘Bell Shakespeare’, Laurence Young, Harper McIlroy, and Cat Domingueze enthralled their audience, creating a fun, interactive experience for all.
Bell Shakespeare is Australia’s national theatre company which specialises in the works of Willian Shakespeare. The company interprets his plays in their own way, delivering their works all around country.
“A guy called John Bell started this company in 1991,” Laurence Young said.
“He started off by doing these shows (for school – aged children), going around to schools and doing bridge Shakespeare stories for kids, and then worked a lot with the government, hustling for a long time to try and get funding.”
John Bell began his career by doing shows in and around Sydney, acting in Churches, schools and in the ‘Nimrod Theatre’ in Sydney, until just recently having their own ‘Bell Shakespeare’ hub.
“In 2022, they finally opened an entire ‘Bell Shakespeare’ hub on the wharves in Sydney. There are offices, a rehearsal room, and an actual theatre there. So, in about 30 years, it was just John and his wife Anna, and he’s now created it into the biggest Shakespeare company in Australia.”
“It’s the first time that Australian accents were heard speaking Shakespeare,” Harper McIlroy said.
“John Bell was sort of like, why isn’t everyone just using their own voice? He really brought that to Australia, and I think it changed the way we connect with Shakespeare, and that’s why we’ve been able to take it to schools around the country,” she said.
Through John Bell and the Bell Shakespeare team, students around the country have developed a new understanding and appreciation for Shakespeare’s works, enjoying the art of his writing, and the passion behind the plays. Bell Shakespeare has given kids who have a passion for drama the confidence to pursue their dreams of acting on stage.
“Going on tour with the company last year, I know how important the shows are, and how it can really change kids lives. They can see actors on stage that went to school near them or went to a university near them and they realise that they too can be an actor as a job.” Mr Young said.
