John Bell Shakespeare Masterclass : Monologues

JOHN BELL SHAKESPEARE MONOLOUGES AS AUDITION PIECES AO OBE

A two day Shakespeare Masterclass.  

A two day Shakespeare Monologues As Audition Pieces Masterclass in Sydney with one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre legends John Bell AO OBE FRSN.

Course Outline | Course Outcomes | Session Details | Apply Now

Course Overview
Following on from the successful three day scene study series the Hub is thrilled to welcome back theatre legend John Bell for one off special two-day intensive Shakespeare series focusing sole on Shakespeare monologues as audition pieces, which is espeically important for upcoming theatre company and drama schools auditions. John Bell is one of the most recognisable and important figures in recent Australian theatre history. For over 50 years, John has worked in nearly every area of the arts. His career highlights include being an Associate Artist of Britain’s world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company, founding the Nimrod Theatre Company which eventually became Belvoir, and later the now 30-year-old Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Bell’s unique contribution to national culture has been recognised by many bodies. He is an Officer of the Order of Australia and the Order of the British Empire; holds an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the Universities of Sydney, New South Wales, and Newcastle; and was recognised in 1997 by the National Trust of Australia as one of Australia’s Living Treasures.

The workshop will commence with an introduction to Shakespearean acting, delving into the art of performing solo pieces, especially as audition materials for the major theatre companies, and drama schools. Participants will explore the nuances between acting in verse and prose. Through the analysis of renowned monologues, the session will uncover the impact of linguistic structures. Following this, attention will be directed towards character development and motivation, utilising various texts to delve into the depths of character portrayal. Actors will be guided in wielding Shakespeare’s language with precision, honing intensity through monologues akin to those found in Richard III. Techniques focusing on physical expression will be employed to animate texts such as Puck’s famous lines, enriching performances with movement and other methods. Subsequently, participants will delve into the imagery and vocal aspects prevalent in Shakespeare’s works. Through the exploration of monologues like those of Prospero, emphasis will be placed on voice modulation and its relevance in contemporary interpretation.

This masterclass is essential for actors looking to deepen their Shakespearean technique and theatre craft. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a true legend of Australian theatre. Come join us!

John Bell Wikipedia. | Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company

Session Details

About John Bell

John Bell is one of the Australia’s most illustrious theatre personalities. Award winning actor, acclaimed director, risk-taking impresario and torch-bearing educationalist, Bell has been a key figure in shaping the nation’s theatrical identity as we know it over the past 50 years.

After graduating from The University of Sydney in 1962, Bell worked for the Old Tote Theatre Company, all of Australia’s state theatre companies and was an Associate Artist of Britain’s world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company.

As co-founder of Sydney’s highly influential Nimrod Theatre Company, Bell presented many productions of landmark Australian plays, including David Williamson’s Travelling North, The Club and The Removalists. He also initiated an Australian Shakespeare style with Nimrod productions such as Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth.

In 1990, Bell took on an even greater challenge, founding The Bell Shakespeare Company. Since then, his productions as director have included Hamlet, Romeo And Juliet, The Taming Of The Shrew, Richard 3, Pericles, Henry 4, Henry 5, Julius Caesar, Antony And Cleopatra, The Comedy Of Errors, Wars Of The Roses, Measure For Measure, Macbeth, The Tempest and As You Like It, as well as Goldoni’s The Servant Of Two Masters, Gogol’s The Government Inspector and Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist.

Meanwhile his roles as an actor for Bell Shakespeare have included Hamlet, Shylock, Henry V, Richard III, Macbeth, Malvolio, Berowne, Petruchio, Leontes, Coriolanus, Prospero, King Lear, Andronicus, and Jaques.

Bell also played the title role in two co-productions with Queensland Theatre Company: Richard 3 and Heiner Müller’s Anatomy Titus Fall Of Rome: A Shakespeare Commentary. In addition, he directed Madame Butterfly for an Oz Opera national tour, and Tosca and Carmen for Opera Australia.

Bell’s unique contribution to national culture has been recognised by many bodies. He is an Officer of the Order of Australia and the Order of the British Empire; has an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the Universities of Sydney, New South Wales and Newcastle; and was recognised in 1997 by the National Trust of Australia as one of Australia’s Living Treasures.

In 2003, the Australia Business Arts Foundation also awarded Bell the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Cultural Leadership Award.

As an actor and director, his many awards include a Helpmann Award for Best Actor (Richard 3, 2002), a Producers and Directors Guild Award for Lifetime Achievement and the JC Williamson Award (2009) for extraordinary contribution to Australia’s live entertainment industry.

Wikipedia