Bell Shakespeare & Learning in 2014 1
Learning in 2014
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Contents CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS’ Statement
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OUR TEAM
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IN SCHOOLS
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Actors At Work 4 Student Masterclasses and Immersive Student Workshops 8 Artist In Residence 9
NATIONAL SNAPSHOT
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IN THEATRES
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IN COMMUNITIES
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Regional Performance Scholarship 20 Juvenile Justice
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Hearts In A Row
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Schools Festival
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
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our partners
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Bell Shakespeare
Hand in Hand Education has been at the core of our activities since Bell Shakespeare began in 1990, when John began performing for students in their school halls in the earliest incarnation of Actors At Work. 25 years on, we have one of the most reputable and impactful Learning programmes in the country. AMPAG’s* 2014 figures demonstrate that Bell Shakespeare’s influence in this sphere is unmatched, with our activities reaching 90% of Federal electorates. Through our Learning programmes our impact ranges from providing students with their very first opportunity to witness a live performance to empowering teachers with innovative and proven strategies for teaching classic texts. Along with strong links to the Australian Curriculum, we deliver myriad educational outcomes through this work, including – but not limited to – improved skills for students of all ages in literacy, public speaking, selfdirected learning, critical and creative thinking, team work, problem solving, self-esteem and motivation. 2014 marked Shakespeare’s 450th birthday and heralded many celebrations, partnerships and successes for our Learning programme. Working with ABC Splash, production company Grumpy Sailor and Google Australia, we developed a variety of free digital initiatives. A year of
many firsts, we piloted the Schools Festival at Canberra Theatre Centre and hosted our inaugural Learning Showcase at Sydney Opera House, sharing the breadth of our work with our many valued supporters whose generosity plays a vital role in what we’re able to deliver. Above all, we endeavour to make Shakespeare and the classics accessible and relevant to Australians everywhere, regardless of their age, income or location. Our commitment to do so has not altered over the last 25 years, and will continue to grow as we look towards sharing our work with the next generation of audiences, encouraging them to join us on our journey. Overall, we reached 77,552 students and 256 teachers face-to-face in every state and territory of Australia throughout 2014, along with another 51,054 people online. We invite you to learn more about our achievements from the past year and hope you will continue with us on our journey for the next.
John Bell ao Co-Artistic Director
*Australian Major Performing Arts Group A note on statistics: Regional and metropolitan schools statistics in this report are defined by My School.
Peter Evans Co-Artistic Director
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Our Team Bell Shakespeare’s creative and administrative staff deliver a wide range of activities. From the dedicated Learning team, who liaise with teachers and manage The Players scheduling and touring, through to the rest of the company who are committed to Learning being a core part of our day to day activities.
The Players Each year Bell Shakespeare employs eight Players to travel the country in two teams of four to deliver our core Learning programmes directly into some of the most remote classrooms and communities. Unique to the industry, this full-time employment opportunity provides young, talented actors with the chance to develop their skills as performers and educators, while also being exposed to the workings of Australia’s only national theatre company. Our 2014 Players were: Ayeesha Ash (January-April) Shauntelle Benjamin Rowan Davie Stacey Duckworth Felix Gentle Jane Mahady (April-October) David Soncin Eloise Snape Jack Starkey-Gill
Arts Educators A talented group of trained arts educators work alongside our team of Players to deliver many of our Learning initiatives. They play a pivotal role in enabling us to develop strong relationships with many schools and teachers across the nation, year after year. Our 2014 Arts Educators were: Trent Baker George Banders Caitlin Beresford-Ord Peter Cook Mel Dodge Matt Edgerton Kerreen Ely-Harper Belinda Hoare Teresa Jakovich Felix Jozeps Ed Lembke-Hogan Michael McCall Huw McKinnon Rosie Pearson Myles Pollard Matilda Ridgway Frankie Savige Saskia Smith Tim Solly Chris Tomkinson Sarah Woods
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In Schools Actors At Work With only four banners and two road-cases of props, The Players inspire young minds with live 50-minute adaptations in school gyms and halls, across each state and territory, showing students that theatre can be created anywhere – all that’s required is imagination. Showcasing the best of Shakespeare’s stories and characters, original dialogue is complemented by modern commentary to assist students’ understanding and to demonstrate the lasting relevance of these works. Not only does each production link to the Australian Curriculum, they often provide students with their first experience of live theatre. The tour reached a total audience of 45,548 people by delivering 369 performances at 294 venues across Australia. 357 of the performances were for school audiences, with the remaining 12 taking place in retirement villages and juvenile justice centres for an audience of 463 people.
The Players delivered three productions in 2014: For Years 1-4, Double Trouble presented a bevy of Shakespeare’s greatest characters who took students on a journey through some of his most loved tales. Such Sweet Sorrow saw students in Years 7-10 take sides in the Montague and Capulet feud as they experienced the highs and lows of Romeo And Juliet’s tragic love story. Year 10-12 students witnessed the madness, murder and mayhem of our brand new 2014 production, Hamlet: Out of Joint, as they delved into the recesses of Hamlet’s mind as his world spirals around him. The humour in the plays and the references to today’s society allowed the students to gain knowledge and understanding about the way in which Shakespeare is relevant today. Ingrid Seck – Teacher, Willyama High School, NSW
Learning in 2014
Thanks to the support of the Limb Family Foundation a new script was developed for primary school audiences – Just Macbeth! (abridged)
They loved it. Considering the nature of the text, this is an amazing achievement in the context of a comprehensive high school. Afterwards they raved to me and confidently cut me off when I tried to explain parts of the play, telling me instead what they knew through the performance. They understood, connected and remembered it. Pam West – Teacher, Springwood High School, NSW
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The Actors At Work were phenomenal; positive, joyous, energetic, focussed and generous. It opened a portal into a world that is quite foreign to the students here.
Bell Shakespeare
Wow wow awesome! What a great thing it is for students in regional areas to see such brilliant performances. Eva Brown – Teacher, Emmanuel Anglican College, NSW
Teacher, Ivanhoe Grammar, VIC
When we perform for schools or communities in rural places they’re different… it’s 35 degrees, we’re outside at 9am in the morning and there are children sitting there saying ‘I don’t want to come in, I don’t want to do this.’ And then you start. And as the performance happens, children get closer and closer and closer until you see this little community of people that are experiencing Shakespeare and enjoying Shakespeare possibly for the first time… actually enjoying it and understanding what they’re hearing. And I feel like that sums up what Bell Shakespeare does – making theatre accessible for everyone. Shauntelle Benjamin – 2014 Player
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My students all enjoyed the performance and have referred to it when discussing the play. They were particularly interested in the interpretations of the characters and the humorous aspects that were much clearer than when just reading the play. Fiona Gordon – Teacher, Bialik College, VIC The students thought it was very entertaining and exciting. Those who are disengaged usually were extremely engaged in the whole performance. Michelle Wilson – Teacher, Wilcannia Central School, NSW
All the performers were outstanding at making Shakespeare come alive for the students. They commented on how much they enjoyed the performances and how much they learnt about Shakespeare Peter Damalas – Teacher, OLMC Parramatta, NSW
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Student Masterclasses & Immersive Student Workshops 95 Masterclasses and Immersive Workshops were delivered throughout 2014, to bring Shakespeare off the page for 2,932 students at 46 schools, in locations such as Dungog High School in NSW, Blue Gum School in ACT, and New Town High School in TAS. 62 two-hour interactive Student Masterclasses were delivered for over 2,000 secondary students based on a selected Shakespeare play relevant to their area of study. The practical workshops were tailored for each group’s needs – with activities that covered the synopsis, scene work, language analysis and character journeys – to provide a solid foundation to carry students through to their subsequent study of the play. The sessions also provided invaluable support, guidance and encouragement for teachers to convey the relevance of the study of Shakespeare through their classroom lessons. Over 900 primary students took part in our Immersive Student Workshops, which saw our arts educators enter their classrooms as powerful Prospero, mischievous Puck or warrior Macbeth. The crosscurriculum approach to classic text imaginatively uses games, visual art, role-playing and dramatic play to introduce students to the work of Shakespeare.
Learning that I could be a bit more confident around people, around my peers. Instead of feeling shy and hiding in the back of the class, I can openly express myself now. Fergus – Student, Terang College, VIC
Remote schools simply cannot afford the human or financial resources to fund high quality performing arts programs. No student should be educationally disadvantaged based on their social, racial or locality status. Programs such as the Bell Shakespeare Residency provide a platform in which remote and predominately Indigenous students can access to further their skills, confidence and selfesteem so that they may dream big and fulfil their goals and personal career aspirations. Rachel Biggs – Teacher, Cunnamulla P-12 State School, QLD
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No other theatre company or creative learning programme ever visits, it provides such an amazing experience for children in our community to develop skills in an area that they may otherwise not get to access. Shannon Alexander – Teacher, Maningrida College, NT
Artist In Residence The Artist in Residence programme provides students and teachers with a tailored practical creative learning experience . Our highly trained arts educators lead dynamic classroom activities – from intensive exploration of a play to school-wide Shakespeare projects – making the plays accessible and giving many students their first introduction to the magic of Shakespeare. Particular focus is placed on developing trust with students to overcome any intimidation or insecurity they might feel, while helping them to answer their most common question – what does Shakespeare have to do with me? Each residency focuses on a play that is relevant to the year group as well as curriculum texts, such as Macbeth or Romeo And Juliet. The Artist In Residence programme consistently achieves exceptional results, including enhanced selfexpression and creativity, increased school attendance rates, decreased levels of aggression and improved team working skills. Most of the 2014 residencies delivered were generously supported by a number of Trusts and Foundations, sponsor BHP Billiton and various government bodies. The focus of these residencies is to deliver them in communities that would otherwise not be able to fund the opportunity, and schools that we have an established relationship with through other Learning programmes, such as the Regional Teacher Scholarship, so that we can build on existing knowledge and provide a deeper, richer learning experience for all.
In 2014 Artist in Residence programmes were held in: Lynall Hall Community School, Richmond VIC Supported by Gandel Philanthropy Yipirinya School, Alice Springs NT Supported by Bill & Patricia Ritchie Foundation Terang College, VIC Supported by Collier Charitable Fund Maningrida College, Arnhem Land NT Supported by Tim Fairfax Family Foundation Cunnamulla P-12 State School, QLD Supported by Tim Fairfax Family Foundation Moree Christian School, NSW Supported by Scully Fund Emerald State High School, QLD Supported by Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Our 15 year relationship with BHP Billiton has given us the ability to deliver many of our Learning programmes to some of the most regional and remote communities in the country. Since 2013, this has also included our Artist in Residence programme, allowing us to travel to sites which often have very few opportunities for young people to develop an interest in drama, the arts and theatre, and for teachers to hone their skills to teach in these areas. In 2014 BHP Billiton supported Artist in Residence programmes in: Collie Senior High School, WA Newman Primary School, WA Cloncurry State School, QLD John Paul College, Kalgoorlie WA
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It is so important to give our students the opportunity to experience what they perceive as something out of their reach to connect them with the community that they feel so disconnected with, to help them gain confidence in themselves not just as young people but as learners as well. Michael Hurwood – Teacher, Lynall Hall Community School, VIC
The Artist in Residence programme provides the perfect service for small rural schools and engages students with Drama, and Shakespeare specifically, in a way they rarely would without it. Tim Barkley – Teacher, Moree Christian School, NSW
I would definitely love to learn more about Shakespeare. Noah – Student, Newman Primary School, WA
Many of the student’s parents had told them that they could have the last day of term off, but the kids decided to come in so they could perform. That says a lot. They had sparkles in their eyes and were clearly proud of themselves. Mel Dodge – Arts Educator
This programme made a massive difference to our students. It gave them an opportunity to engage in a different type of learning experience, a chance to be creative and expressive, and it gave them an insight into some hugely influential texts. Without the financial support in place, we wouldn’t be able to provide these opportunities.” Steve Wayman – Teacher, Collie Senior High School, WA
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The residency allows drama to infiltrate the classroom with teachers who otherwise would not consider using drama for teaching English. Drama is especially relevant for our ESL (English as a Second Language) demographic, including activities such as role play. Louise Hattam – Teacher, Yipirinya School, NT
The importance of these workshops cannot be underestimated and it is vital that there is a continuation of the work for the students to keep reaping the benefits. Peter Cook – Arts Educator
This program not only teaches students, it allows them to engage with their learning and become enthusiastic about their studies. Rachel Halse – Teacher, John Paul College, WA
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Bell Shakespeare
Other Residencies Shakespeare and the new Storytellers Supported by Arts NSW Arts NSW supported the delivery of four residencies tailored to support the development of literacy, confidence, and enthusiasm through storytelling and Shakespeare at schools with diverse student populations. Throughout Terms 3 and 4, the 10-week intensive storytelling residencies, ‘Shakespeare and the new Storytellers’, took place at Western Sydney high schools Arthur Philip High School in Parramatta, Cabramatta High School, Holroyd High School, and Miller Technology High School. Two arts educators were allocated to each school, working with groups of culturally and linguistically diverse students from refugee or immigrant backgrounds, in weekly two-hour practical workshops. The work culminated with students devising their own stories inspired by Shakespeare’s plays and their own real-life experiences. The residencies were enthusiastically received, with 100% of teachers reporting that student improvement was shown in self-confidence, self-expression, literacy, and understanding of and enthusiasm for Shakespeare. I cannot speak highly enough about this program and our relationship with Bell Shakespeare. It was an absolute gift for our students … the best part of the programme was how it absolutely acknowledged, respected and celebrated the diversity within the group. Matthew Fields – Teacher, Holroyd High School, NSW
Collingwood English Language School Supported by Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development For the final year of a three-year project through the Strategic Partnerships Program of the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, we delivered a residency at Collingwood English Language School in Richmond, Victoria. As part of the ‘Shakespeare and Storytelling’ residency, our arts educator worked with 88 students and two teachers over the course of 10 weeks. In 2014 the residency focused on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, using the text as a departure point for selfreflection and dramatic exploration, leading to a school performance of selected scenes. I was delighted with the response and enthusiasm of my young class most of whom are newly arrived in Australia. They LOVED performing and were totally engaged in the workshops. Rosemary Kellett – Teacher, Collingwood English Language School, VIC
Learning in 2014
In 2014 we delivered two paid Artist In Residence programmes to New South Wales schools. Tailored to the needs of the schools involved, both residencies were delivered by arts educators returning to continue work from previous years, deepening the engagement with the school community and enriching their study of key Shakespeare plays. We delivered a one-week residency at Loreto Normanhurst in term one, with 57 students and three teachers involved in workshops around A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth. Student feedback was very positive. We returned to Calrossy Anglican School in Tamworth in Term Three following a successful residency in 2013, working with students to develop their interest in Shakespeare and their confidence as performers. Head of English Chris Chong said the “students were excited and entertained, and enjoyed the experience immensely.” It is hard to put into words the overall impact that this has had on our students, and the school as a whole... It not only has developed their Shakespeare and acting knowledge, but has had a wide ranging impact on their self-confidence and personal development which is often the hardest thing to help kids with. Liam Geary – Teacher, Terans P–12 College, VIC
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National Snapshot The Players travelled more than 50,000kms across Australia
The Players visited some far out places including: Cobar, NSW Bourke, NSW Shepparton, VIC Emerald, QLD Roxby Downs, SA Taminmin, NT
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In Theatres It is vitally important that all students have the opportunity to experience live theatre. Throughout 2014, 22,615 students from 294 schools saw one of our mainstage productions. Shakespeare is often challenging for students, and seeing a production can be a daunting experience. However, we also know that the key to understanding Shakespeare is to see his works performed live. We complement this experience with our free online resources, created for each production. We provide support to teachers across a range of areas, such as essays, synopses and thematic concerns, to pre- and post-show classroom activities, so that they feel prepared and empowered to deliver quality lessons to their students that complement their studies and the performance itself.
MACBETH As a staple text on the Australian curriculum, Macbeth was a hugely popular choice for our 2014 dedicated performance for students. Directed by our Associate Artist & Resident Artist in Education, James Evans, and starring the 2014 Players, the production was well received by students and teachers. This fast-paced 90-minute production was copresented with Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, from July to August. A total of 19,740 students from 229 schools saw the production, and of these, 1,884 students from 38 regional schools enjoyed their rare visit to some of Australia’s leading performing arts venues.
The production was included on the 2014 VCE Theatre Studies list and had curriculum links to English: Language, Literature, Literacy; The Arts: Drama, Theatre Studies, Entertainment Industry; Humanities and Social Sciences: History. The students loved the use of stagecraft and nonnaturalism. Seeing the text come to life helped create meaning in the performance. Genelle Lentini – Teacher, Cranbourne East Secondary College, VIC
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All students were so positive about the play and the live performance experience. Most students have not seen a live performance before and some had not been to Melbourne. Grace Sutton – Teacher, Maryborough Education Centre, VIC
With support from the Australian Government Department of Education, we provided disadvantaged schools across NSW and Victoria half-price tickets to see Macbeth. We welcomed over 2,000 students from 28 schools as part of this initiative.
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Bell Shakespeare
The Winter’s Tale
Tartuffe
Bell Shakespeare’s founder and Co-Artistic Director John Bell opened the 2014 season with an enchanting production of The Winter’s Tale, starring Myles Pollard, Helen Thomson and Rory Potter. The production journeyed from intense family drama, to fitful dreams of jealousy, brimming with mayhem, magic, redemption - and a marriage. A total of 461 students from seven schools saw The Winter’s Tale, including 27 regional students. Curriculum links were English: Language, Literature, Literacy; The Arts: Drama, Theatre Studies, Entertainment Industry.
For the first time we staged Molière’s classic comedy Tartuffe, using Justin Fleming’s devilishly fun Australian rendering. Directed by Bell Shakespeare’s Co-Artistic Director Peter Evans, the production covered themes of family, love, forgiveness, truth, fidelity, the male mid-life crisis and deceit. A total of 300 students from nine schools saw this wickedly funny production, including 29 students from two regional schools. Curriculum links were English: Language, Literature, Literacy; The Arts: Drama, Theatre Studies, Entertainment Industry.
Very engaging. It helped bring to life a text and genre that is quite difficult for them to grasp.
Many students commented that it was the best theatre performance they had ever attended.
Maureen Pride – Teacher, Trinity Grammar School, NSW
David Raciti – Teacher, Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, NSW
I can’t begin to describe what an enriching and invigorating experience it was. My daughter (9) was transfixed from start to finish. Ross Farrelly – Patron, Sydney
My Yr 10 drama class was absolutely enthralled and subjected me to gushes all the way home! Elaine Petrovic – Teacher, Cabramatta High School, NSW
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The Dream
Henry V
For the first time in over 10 years, Bell Shakespeare presented a main stage version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Peter Evans’ 90-minute romp of this classic romantic comedy was a highly physical, truly transformative production that saw eight actors playing multiple characters . A total of 1,125 students from 24 schools across Canberra and Melbourne saw The Dream. Of these, 264 students from six regional schools visited the Canberra Theatre Centre to enjoy a live theatre experience. Curriculum links were English: Language, Literature, Literacy; The Arts: Drama, Theatre Studies, Entertainment Industry.
Our 2014 national touring production was an incredibly exciting new interpretation of Henry V, directed by Damien Ryan in his first mainstage production for Bell Shakespeare. Ryan’s contemporary take was inspired by a true story; for 57 consecutive nights during the Blitz in 1941, a group of boys trapped in a bunker rehearsed a new play each week and would then perform it for the others in the shelter. Over six months, Henry V toured to every state and territory in Australia, delivering 116 performances in 32 venues. A total of 889 students from 25 schools across Canberra and Sydney saw the production. Of these, 122 students from three regional schools across both cities visited the Sydney Opera House and the Canberra Theatre Centre. Curriculum links were English: Language, Literature, Literacy; The Arts: Drama, Theatre Studies, Entertainment Industry; Humanities and Social Sciences: History.
The students were very impressed and surprised as to how much the live theatre experience enhanced their understanding and appreciation. Matthew Lynch – Teacher, The Henry Lawson High School, NSW
Henry V Regional Access Workshops were presented by Bell Shakespeare arts educators at regional venues across the country and took place in advance of performances. Schools that booked tickets to Henry V were entitled to a Regional Access Workshop at no charge to the school or venue. The workshops ran for 75 minutes in duration, and covered plot synopsis, character journeys and design images from the production. This programme provided venues with a practical way of engaging youth audiences as part of ongoing audience development strategies. This workshop was an exceptional learning experience and was also great fun to be involved in. I can’t wait for another. Grace Harris – Teacher, St John’s College, Woodlawn NSW
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In Communities We endeavour to provide as many opportunities as we can for Australians from all walks of life, including those from regional areas and within disadvantaged communities.
Regional Performance Scholarship For the 12th year running, Bell Shakespeare offered students in regional and remote parts of Australia the opportunity to audition for the Regional Performance Scholarship. The Scholarship offers high school students who are passionate about pursuing a career in acting, the opportunity to travel to Sydney for a week of workshops, backstage tours, rehearsal observations and live theatre. Two winners were chosen in 2014 from a competitive field of around 100 students: Daniel Hair from Holy Spirit College in Mackay QLD and Jack Richardson from Ballarat Clarendon College in Ballarat VIC. Daniel and Jack also had the opportunity to perform their winning monologues in front of an audience of Bell Shakespeare staff, with feedback provided directly from John Bell and an impressed cast and crew of The Winter’s Tale.
Before this scholarship I wasn’t sure I wanted a career in acting. However after one absolutely brilliant week with the top Shakespearean company in Australia, my mind is made up and I now can’t think of any other job. Every part of this week has been enlightening, fascinating, educational, entertaining and spectacular – and I’m not exaggerating. Daniel Hair – Holy Spirit College, QLD
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Juvenile Justice Programme Following a successful pilot of the Bell Shakespeare Juvenile Justice programme across 2010-2011, the Bill & Patricia Ritchie Foundation generously pledged their support towards the delivery of the programme for three consecutive years (2013-2015) at Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre and Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. Storytelling is a key communicative device and an effective learning tool across cultures, age groups and languages. We lead workshops that deliver young offenders into the world of the story to help them see relationships, actions and consequences from the perspectives of the different characters, and to consider their own lives through the lens of Shakespeare’s plays. Beginning with an Actors At Work performance, detainees nominate to participate in a series of workshops, culminating with a performance in front of their peers, teachers and family members. The programme provides the opportunity to improve selfconfidence and motivation, explore self-directed learning and increase their academic and cognitive skills. The success of this model was evident after the first year. By making a commitment towards the ongoing delivery of the programme, the impact that the Bill & Patricia Ritchie Foundation has had on the centres involved, and the individuals themselves, has been recognised as nothing less than incredible.
Some detainees reported that it wouldn’t have been something they would normally considered participating in, but once they were engaged they found it interesting and fun. There were signs that their confidence and communication levels improved along with their self-esteem. Craig Derwin – Assistant Manager, Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre
A personal highlight for arts educator Matilda Ridgway was surprising a young woman, who was not confident with English and was reluctant to participate, with a synopsis of Romeo And Juliet translated to Mandarin, completely transforming the young woman’s attitude towards the lessons.
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Hearts In A Row Celebrating 10 years in 2015, Hearts In A Row provides individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged schools and charitable groups with the opportunity to see a Bell Shakespeare theatre production. With a complimentary programme and pre-show arts educator talk, they’re given insight into Shakespeare and the live performance experience ahead. Even greater than the experience itself, Hearts In A Row has become renowned for imbuing recipients with an incredible sense of community, culture and purpose. For students, seeing Shakespeare’s work brought to life on the stage brings great benefit, especially in the HSC year. In addition to a number of community groups, we welcomed 357 students from 11 schools including Homebush Boys High School, Footscray City College and Blacktown Boys High School.
More than 4,500 Hearts In A Row experiences have been provided since 2005
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Schools Festival As part of our efforts to increase access to creative arts opportunities for young audience members, we piloted the Bell Shakespeare Schools Festival in 2014, in partnership with Canberra Theatre Centre. With guidance from Bell Shakespeare’s arts educators, schools from the ACT and surrounds were invited to present their own interpretations of Macbeth, with six schools selected to produce a section of the play in their proposed style: Batemans Bay High School, Campbell High School, Canberra Grammar School, St Edmunds College, St Francis Xavier College and Wanniassa Enrichment Program. Across two evenings Year 7–10 students from three schools converged on the Playhouse stage at Canberra Theatre Centre to perform their 30-minute sections of
Themes ranged from Mad Max to national politics and Indigenous Australia. We hope to one day deliver this programme on a national scale. The Schools Festival was no doubt the highlight of my year. I met so many new people and made so many friends and the production really brought out the best side of me. I loved it. Jenna – Student, Campbell High School, ACT
Macbeth in succession, presenting audiences with the entire play in three vastly different interpretations. The response was very positive, with teachers declaring how invaluable the opportunity had been. Not only did this programme provide their students with the unique chance to be exposed to a professional production and theatre experience, it also assisted with broader issues, such as inspiring career pathways. In addition, a number of students with anxiety and a history of poor school attendance, attended every rehearsal, whilst others with low literacy showed pride in their ability to learn their Elizabethan lines.
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Professional Learning Teaching teachers Bell Shakespeare has long recognised the importance of providing quality training and development opportunities for teachers, to ensure they have all the tools they need to deliver their own inspiring lessons. Our Professional Learning programme continued to engage with early career and experienced teachers throughout 2014, with programmes presented across Australia. With the support of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, our 8th Regional Teacher Scholarship welcomed a dozen teachers from regional and remote schools. They traveled to Sydney for an intensive week of training and mentoring, which empowered them with fresh and practical approaches to share with their school community. Our 2014 Regional Teacher Scholarship recipients were: Melissa Calabrese, Emerald State High School QLD Judith Cavanough, Warrnambool College VIC Debra Edmondson, Nyngan High School NSW Liam Geary, Terang College 5-12 Campus VIC Louise Hattam, Yipirinya School NT Pauleen Hayes, Kormilda College NT Ree Nicholson, Bourke High School NSW Bradley Pine, Mount Gambier High School SA Michelle Rigby, Shepparton High School VIC Tim Rushton, Lithgow High School NSW Belinda Stephens, Brooks High School TAS Amelia Jane Yarwood, Menindee Central School NSW This is a canon effect; it just doesn’t just end here. We are going to go back and share with our colleagues and with our community, and that’s I think the power of having the Regional Teacher Scholarship, it’s not just for big cities, we’ve got 12 people who are from all round Australia and we can share that, we can spread the word, spread the love of Shakespeare. Belinda Stephens, Regional Teacher Scholarship recipient
13 teachers from metropolitan and regional areas joined us for our Shakespeare Weekender. Participants access innovative resources, as well as a growing network of passionate teachers from across the country. The Department of Education subsidised the National Teacher Forum: Shakespeare in the Primary Classroom, which involved 35 primary teachers from 27 schools from every state and territory. Run by our arts educators, the full day workshops presented primary teachers with practical strategies to encourage students to get on their feet to understand the stories, characters and techniques of Shakespeare’s key plays, laying a solid foundation for future study. Unravelling Macbeth was held at Arts Centre Melbourne for 17 teachers, exploring approaches on how to break down the text for their students in order to prepare them for their attendance at our schools dedicated production of Macbeth. To round out the year, we offered our popular Actor Training courses in Sydney, attended by 16 early career and experienced actors.
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Teaching alongside our peers Across the year we collaborated with several external organisations to offer further innovative learning opportunities. We presented a series of specialist student workshops to 22 students enrolled in the Acting 2 course at NIDA, with a semester long course on the art of playing Shakespearean roles. We also presented audition preparation workshops with select NIDA students. We worked closely with other Sydney arts companies, including Sydney Opera House, Belvoir and ATYP, to present ACE at the Sydney Theatre Company, delivering an interactive session on The Tempest for nine primary school teachers. I would recommend this Actor Training to every serious actor, whether new to the industry or a seasoned actor. Maxine Harding, Student – Shakespeare Lab
806 teachers keep connected through the Bell Shakespeare Teacher Network Facebook page
I thoroughly enjoyed this learning programme. It reminded me of the importance of experiential learning and how it can aid understanding of Shakespeare’s language and the performance of his plays. Genevieve Thraves, Kormilda College NT – Shakespeare Weekender participant
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Beyond the Classroom We are constantly exploring new ways to educate, inspire and engage students beyond the stage and away from their desks, and were thrilled to launch several new digital initiatives in 2014. On 23 April 2014, the world celebrated William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, and Bell Shakespeare marked the occasion with six days of live and interactive Shakespearean activity with Google Australia. Over the week we hosted a whole suite of free digital content that included a live 15-minute ‘Birthday Bash’ on YouTube with some of Shakespeare’s favourite characters; an interactive ‘Hangout in History’ lesson on Elizabethan England, hosted by William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I; a Hamlet acting workshop; and ‘In Conversations’ with our Co-Artistic Directors, John Bell and Peter Evans, and another between John Bell and model and philanthropist Lily Cole. In another exciting partnership, ABC Splash! and Bell Shakespeare created Shakespeare Unbound, a series of unique, premium video resources freely available for Australian schools. Comprised of twelve scenes from six of Shakespeare’s most famous plays - Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Romeo And Juliet, Julius Caesar and The
Tempest – the videos are paired with commentaries from the director and cast that unpack the meaning of the work. This resource provides both teachers and students with a contemporary take on the life and work of William Shakespeare, engaging the new generation in a format that is interactive and educational. Viewed by over 16,000 people in the first four months, it has become the most popular digibook the ABC has ever produced. Integral to our Learning programme is The Players engagement on social media, constantly encouraging students to reach out with questions and comments, ensuring that, regardless of geographic or socio-economic barriers, students have the opportunity to continue their learning journey with us. In 2014 we also launched the #MacbethExperiment. The Players used social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, twitter and Spotify to crack open Macbeth for discussion by students around Australia, giving a truly innovative and interactive experience throughout every aspect of production, from the design process and a dress rehearsal, to a live Q&A with the cast, streamed directly into classrooms and viewed over 1,200 times.
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450th Celebrations Over 7,000 YouTube views in Shakespeare’s birthday week alone for 450th celebrations. I can’t tell you what an incredible project this was to work on. The ideas, the people, the passion all came together to create magic. This was definitely one of my most cherished projects at Google. Leticia Lentini – Branding Marketing Manager, Google
Macbeth live-streamed Q&A viewed over 1,200 times on YouTube I would just like to say that the live Q&A session yesterday was absolutely fantastic! I am so glad that I got to see this before we attended the show. It has given us a lot to discuss before and plenty to analyse afterwards. Melanie Thomas – Teacher, Cranbourne Secondary College, VIC
Shakespeare Unbound ABC Splash Produced for years 9 & 10 12 videos 6 plays 9 actors 16,000 views in the first 4 months online
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Special Event Partner
Special Event Partner
Printing Partner
Wine Partner
Digital Partner
Accomodation Partner Canberra
MEDIA PARTNERS
Bill & Patricia Ritchie Foundation Collier Charitable Fund Crown Resorts Foundation EB Myer Charity Fund Gandel Philanthropy Ian Potter Foundation Intersticia Foundation James N Kirby Foundation Limb Family Foundation Mundango Charitable Trust Packer Family Foundation Pratt Foundation Scully Fund Tim Fairfax Family Foundation Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Weir Anderson Foundation
Outdoor Media Partner
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
Bell Shakespeare is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Bell Shakespeare is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Bell Shakespeare Learning Initiatives 2012–2015 is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education.
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Level 1, 33 Playfair Street The Rocks NSW 2000 Australia PO Box 10 Millers Point NSW 2000 Australia T 1300 305 730 E learning@bellshakespeare.com.au BellShakespeareTeacherNetwork ThePlayersBellShakespeare the_players_ @BellShakespeare Bell Shakespeare bellshakespeare.com.au/LEARNING
This brochure is printed on Nordset from BJBall Papers. Titan Satin is an environmentally responsible paper produced from FSC速 Mixed Sources Chain of Custody (CoC) certified pulp from well managed forests, is Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and made Carbon Neutral. Titan Satin is manufactured by Nordland Papier, a company certified with environmental management systems ISO 14001 and EMAS, the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (Reg.No.D-162-00007).