Bell Shakespeare has announced its highly anticipated 2026 season, promising a dynamic lineup of productions that will captivate audiences across the country.
The season features three major works: a bold new staging of Julius Caesar, the world premiere of Mackenzie by award-winning playwright Yve Blake, and a national tour of the company’s critically acclaimed 2023 production of Macbeth. With a mix of Shakespearean classics and innovative new works, the season explores themes of ambition, power, and the human condition.
Don’t forget to see other productions on stage in London too, like The importance of being earnest with Olly Alexander.
A Thrilling New Julius Caesar
Kicking off the season in March is a fresh take on Shakespeare’s political masterpiece, Julius Caesar. Directed by Artistic Director Peter Evans, this production delves into the cost of ambition, loyalty, and the fragility of democracy. Starring Leon Ford (Elvis, Hamlet) as Cassius and Brigid Zengeni (Coriolanus, The Artful Dodger) as Brutus, the play follows the rise and fall of Julius Caesar, whose growing influence sparks a chilling conspiracy that leads to devastating consequences.
Evans’ vision promises a gripping exploration of power and its perils, set against the backdrop of a society grappling with the allure of autocracy. The production will open in Sydney before touring to Canberra and Melbourne.
If you’re in the UK, the good news is that Dear England is restarting its national tour.
The World Premiere of Mackenzie
In June, Bell Shakespeare will present the world premiere of Mackenzie, a hilarious and twisted reimagining of Macbeth by Yve Blake, the award-winning creator of the hit musical FANGIRLS. Directed by Virginia Gay, actor and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Mackenzie reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy through the lens of early 2000s TV stardom.
The play follows Mackenzie, a 13-year-old child star, and her ruthlessly ambitious stage mother, offering a camp, satirical take on ambition and fame. Featuring original music by Blake, Mackenzie promises to be a riotous and deeply entertaining production. It will debut in Sydney before heading to Melbourne.
A National Tour of Macbeth
Rounding out the season is an extensive national tour of Peter Evans’ critically acclaimed 2023 production of Macbeth. This “utterly compelling” (Sydney Morning Herald) staging, set in the moody 1920s post-World War I, offers a haunting portrayal of moral collapse and the dark heart of humanity.
The production stars Anthony Taufa (Coriolanus, Jailbaby) as Macbeth and Matilda Ridgway (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Bump) as Lady Macbeth. With over 20 venues on the tour, audiences across Australia will have the chance to experience this séance-inspired nightmare world.
Beyond the Stage: Outreach, Education, and Events
In addition to its mainstage productions, Bell Shakespeare will continue its extensive national outreach and education programs, bringing the magic of Shakespeare to schools, communities, and Juvenile Justice centres across the country.
The 2026 season will also feature a series of engaging events, including panel discussions titled Ambition and the Aftermath in Sydney and Melbourne, the lively script reading series Play In A Day featuring Henry VI Part 2, and the ever-popular Sonnets & Semillon. To complement the season of Julius Caesar, leading Australian academics will present lectures exploring the play’s enduring relevance.
A Message from the Artistic Director
Artistic Director Peter Evans shared his excitement for the upcoming season:
“Welcome to season 2026, a season of ambition, guilt, and idealised murder. First up is Julius Caesar, one of the most famous political plays of all time, centred on the most famous murder in Western history. After Coriolanus this year, I’m fascinated to produce Julius Caesar again, another of Shakespeare’s history-based Roman plays, and see how one informs the other.
Our national tour sees the return of our highly successful production of Macbeth with a new cast to take our séance-inspired nightmare world around the country. And excitingly, we have a brand-new play, Mackenzie, by Yve Blake. Yve is one of the most exciting and hilarious writers in Australia, and when she sent us her new play about an ambitious teenage TV star and her relentless stage mother, we were delighted—horrified and delighted. We can’t wait to welcome audiences to the theatre next year.”
A Season to Remember
Bell Shakespeare’s 2026 season promises to be a thrilling journey through the complexities of ambition, power, and human nature. With a mix of timeless classics and bold new works, the company continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and bring Shakespeare’s legacy to life for modern audiences. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the Bard, this season is not to be missed.