Lyla Lindsey
Shakespeare's popularity in Australia is evident through the various theatre companies dedicated to his works, such as the Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare. The former presents innovative and contemporary productions of Shakespeare's plays, while the latter, founded by actor-director John Bell, aims to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a relevant and exciting way. Shakespeare's works are also a part of the Australian High School curriculum, with one or more of his plays being studied. Despite some debates about the relevance of Shakespeare in modern Australian society, his literary and dramatic importance in the country's cultural landscape is undeniable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shakespeare's popularity in Australia | Shakespeare is popular in Australia, with his works being studied in schools and performed in theatres across the country. |
| Study in schools | It is a requirement in the Australian High School curriculum that one or more of Shakespeare's plays are studied. |
| Performances | The Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare are two notable theatre companies that frequently perform Shakespeare's plays. |
| Cultural significance | Shakespeare's literary and dramatic significance is recognised in Australia, with his plays being among the most frequently performed in the country's early professional theatre. |
| History | Shakespeare has a long history in Australia, dating back to the 19th century when his plays were popular in rural areas and performed in elaborate theatres. |
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What You'll Learn
Shakespeare in the Australian curriculum
Shakespeare has had a long and colourful history in Australia. From the early days of actor-managers like Henry Deering and George Coppin, who brought Shakespearean plays to the country, to the modern-day Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare, the country has a rich tradition of engaging with the playwright's works.
In 2016, 400 years after Shakespeare's death, his plays remained a mandatory part of the Australian high school curriculum. Students are required to study at least one of his plays. This is in line with other countries, such as Ireland, the UK, and the US, where Shakespeare is also a standard part of the curriculum.
The Australian Shakespeare Company is a registered not-for-profit charity that delivers school incursions and professional development programs across Victoria and New South Wales. Their performances bring a unique and proven approach to the classroom, offering a contemporary take on Shakespeare's classics.
Bell Shakespeare, Australia's national theatre company, also plays a significant role in education. They offer teachers exclusive access to recordings of their productions, premium resources, and discounted theatre tickets. Their mission is to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a "relevant and exciting way", ensuring that all Australians have the opportunity to experience his works.
Debates and Criticisms
Despite Shakespeare's enduring presence in the Australian curriculum, there have been debates about its relevance to modern students. Some argue that Shakespeare's language is outdated and difficult to understand, making it inaccessible and irrelevant to contemporary youth. Others question the value of studying his works outside of academic pursuits.
However, supporters of Shakespeare in the curriculum emphasize his enduring legacy as a dramatist, poet, and prose writer. They argue that his works offer universal insights into the human condition and encourage students to think critically and creatively.
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The Australian Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare is popular in Australia, with a history of actor-managers such as Henry Deering and George Coppin meeting the demand for Shakespearean plays. The Australian Shakespeare Company (ASC) is a registered not-for-profit charity that presents exciting, accessible, and contemporary productions of Shakespeare's plays, children's classics, musicals, and other plays. The company offers unique and innovative theatre performances and school incursions in Victoria and New South Wales.
The ASC acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where they live, learn, perform, and work. The company relies on ticket sales and the support of its patrons to remain operational and offers a newsletter to keep audiences informed about upcoming productions, discount tickets, exclusive offers, and its education program.
The ASC's productions are designed to be contemporary and accessible to modern Australian audiences. One example is "Captain Jack's Pirate Party," where the audience joins the crew, sings songs, and helps hunt for a missing treasure map. The show features sword fights, sea shanties, and pirate-themed antics.
Another notable Australian theatre company specializing in Shakespeare's works is Bell Shakespeare, established in 1990 by actor-director John Bell. Bell Shakespeare aims to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a "relevant and exciting way." The company offers a Teacher Membership program, providing Australian teachers with access to streamed productions, resources, discounted tickets, and invitations to exclusive events.
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Bell Shakespeare
Shakespeare is popular in Australia, with one source stating that "all the world's a stage for William Shakespeare. Australia is no exception". The Australian Shakespeare Company presents exciting, accessible, and contemporary productions of Shakespeare's plays.
Each year, Bell Shakespeare performs a mainstage season consisting of three theatre productions, including an annual national tour, and a learning program to support students, teachers, and communities nationally. The company creates a theatre production specifically for students each year and also provides professional learning for teachers. A range of scholarships are also provided to support students and teachers, including the John Bell Scholarship, which is aimed at students living in regional or remote areas who are interested in a career as a performer.
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Shakespeare in Australian culture
Shakespeare has had a significant presence in Australian culture, with a history dating back to the early days of professional theatre in the country. Actor-managers like Henry Deering and George Coppin played a pivotal role in bringing Shakespearean plays to Australian audiences, often in more elaborate theatre settings. "Hamlet", for instance, was particularly popular among gold diggers, who would sometimes express their appreciation by throwing gold nuggets at the performers.
In the 19th century, Shakespeare's works remained popular in rural Australia, but in the capitals, a divide between high and low culture led to a decrease in the frequency of his plays being performed. Despite this, Shakespeare's literary and dramatic importance was solidified, with certain speeches widely known and even parodied.
The actor-director John Bell, founder of the Nimrod Theatre Company, has been credited with making Shakespeare more accessible and Australian. Bell Shakespeare, established in 1990, aims to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a "relevant and exciting way". The company has produced a range of Shakespeare's plays, including "Antony and Cleopatra", "Julius Caesar", and "Romeo and Juliet".
Shakespeare's works are also a part of the Australian education system, with high school students required to study at least one of his plays. The Australian Shakespeare Company, a registered not-for-profit charity, contributes to this by delivering school incursions and professional development programmes in Victoria and New South Wales. The company also puts on productions in unique settings like the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens, making Shakespeare accessible to a wider audience.
Despite some debates about the relevance of Shakespeare in modern Australian education, his works continue to be translated and performed in the country, with at least five plays produced in Sydney in 2016, marking 400 years since his death.
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Shakespeare's popularity in Australia
Shakespeare's works have been a staple part of Australia's literary landscape since the earliest convict days. His plays have been performed in every corner of the country, from plush theatres to outback tents, gallery courtyards to botanic gardens.
Actor-managers like Henry Deering and George Coppin helped meet the demand for Shakespearean plays, with 'Hamlet' proving especially popular with diggers, who would sometimes pellet the stage with gold nuggets! Coppin introduced acclaimed Irish tragedian Gustavus Vaughan Brooke to Australian audiences, who gave over 200 performances, including an emotion-charged 'Othello' that earned him the highest praise.
In the 19th century, Shakespeare remained popular in rural Australia, but in the capitals, his works became associated with high culture, leading to a decrease in audiences and performance frequency. Despite this, certain speeches were widely known and parodied, and Shakespeare's popularity was evident in the burlesques and parodies that preceded productions.
Today, Shakespeare's works continue to be studied in Australian high schools, and his plays are regularly performed by companies like the Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare, ensuring that his legacy remains relevant and exciting for Australian audiences.
Bell Shakespeare, founded by actor-director John Bell, is Australia's national theatre company specialising in the works of Shakespeare. The company aims to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a meaningful way, believing that his works challenge and inspire us to imagine our future.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Shakespeare is popular in Australia. There are several companies in Australia dedicated to performing Shakespeare's works, such as the Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare. Shakespeare's plays are also studied in Australian high schools.
Yes, there are several Australian theatre companies that perform Shakespeare's works, including the Australian Shakespeare Company and Bell Shakespeare. The Australian Shakespeare Company is a registered not-for-profit charity that presents Shakespeare's plays in innovative and unique theatre performance forms. Bell Shakespeare, established in 1990, aims to connect Australian audiences with Shakespeare in a "relevant and exciting way".
Yes, it is a requirement in the Australian High School curriculum that one or more of Shakespeare's plays are studied.
Shakespeare's literary and dramatic importance was established in Australia's earliest professional theatres. In the second half of the 19th century, Shakespeare remained a popular playwright in rural Australia, but in the capitals, his works were ""sacralised" as high culture, leading to a decrease in performances. Actor-managers such as Henry Deering and George Coppin helped meet the demand for Shakespearean plays in more elaborate theatres.
The Australian Shakespeare Company performs in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. Bell Shakespeare also performs in various locations across Australia.
