For the first time in over a decade, Bell Shakespeare presents a thrilling new production of King Lear. Staging this epic work in an intimate setting promises Australian audiences a fresh and captivating experience unlike any before. Bell Shakespeare’s 2024 season also sees the triumphant return of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to tour at over 23 venues throughout the nation. This ambitious undertaking aims to reach areas it failed to visit in 2021 due to the pandemic-related disruptions. Artistic Director Peter Evans adds a thought-provoking dimension to the season with In A Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence, exploring Shakespeare’s depictions of violence.
In an energetic statement, Artistic Director Peter Evans said, “Welcome to Season 2024, where we relish Shakespeare’s highest achievements in the ridiculous and the sublime: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear. The season promises a unique blend of the familiar and the new, comedy and tragedy, the ridiculous and the sublime.”
Kicking off the season at the Sydney Opera House from 6 – 30 March, Shakespeare’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises magic, mirth, and mayhem. This production, which had already toured to several regional venues in Australia in 2021 before COVID border closures disrupted remaining dates, is set to return in 2024 at 23 venues across New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, and the ACT.
After a lengthy hiatus since 2010, King Lear, directed by Peter Evans and starring Robert Menzies (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet) in the titular role, is set to make a grand comeback. Premiering in Sydney at The Neilson Nutshell from 20 June – 20 July and then travelling to Arts Centre Melbourne from 25 July – 11 August, this heart-wrenching new production promises a powerful, unforgettable experience.
Evans will also lead audiences on a journey through his favourite scenes and speeches that explore the poetry of violence in Shakespeare’s plays in the second installment of In A Nutshell. From Macbeth to Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet to Richard III, Evans explores Shakespeare’s complex relationship with violence and its uses in his plays.
In addition to these mainstage productions, Bell Shakespeare continues its extensive national outreach and education program. Other events throughout the year hosted at Bell Shakespeare’s home at Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct include a film screening series Shakespeare on Film, a panel on Shakespeare and the language revolution, a pop trivia night, the lively script reading series, Play In A Day, featuring Cymbeline, and the ever popular Sonnets & Semillon.
Experience the magic of Shakespeare’s timeless classics and intriguing interpretations in Bell Shakespeare’s 2024 season. Download Season 2024 brochure here.