Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare

S1 Ep10: Harriet Gordon-Anderson

Hamlet from Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1 performed by Harriet Gordon-Anderson 

Harriet Gordon-Anderson joins James to perform and unpack arguably the most famous speech in all of Shakespeare’s oeuvre from Act 3, Scene 1 of Hamlet: “To be, or not to be”. They delve into the world of Hamlet, pulling apart the character’s motivations, how the play’s gender politics play out in the 21st century and how Shakespeare’s language so perfectly encapsulates our emotions and experiences. Harriet Gordon-Anderson is an actor who has appeared for Bell Shakespeare in The Miser (2019) and Hamlet (2020). She returns to the stage in 2021 to reprise her critically acclaimed role as the Prince of Denmark in Hamlet.

 

S1 Ep9: John Bell

Prospero from The Tempest Act 5, Scene 2 performed by John Bell 

This week John Bell joins James on Speak The Speech performing Prospero’s speech from Act 5, Scene 1 of The Tempest, and discusses his lifelong relationship with Shakespeare’s work. They discuss his career in theatre, from performing in university plays, to the Royal Shakespeare Company, before returning to Australia and founding the Nimrod Theatre, and eventually Bell Shakespeare. They delve into the complexities of Shakespeare’s works and how they are forever evolving as new audiences grapple with their themes and experiences. John Bell is the Founding Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare and one of Australia’s most acclaimed theatre personalities. In a career of acting and directing, he’s been instrumental in shaping the Australian theatre industry as we know it. He is a multi-award winner, Officer of the Order of Australia and an Australian National Living Treasure.

S1 Ep8: Ray Chong Nee

Emelia from Othello Act 4, Scene 3 performed by Ray Chong Nee 

Ray Chong Nee joins James to perform and unpack Emilia’s speech from Act 4, Scene 3 of Othello. They discuss misogyny and racism in Shakespeare’s tragedy and how creative teams address these issues in contemporary productions. Ray talks about representation on stage, what it is like to tour Shakespeare’s works around Australia on the mainstage and in schools, and how important it is to be muscular with Shakespeare’s language. Ray Chong Nee is an award-winning actor. For Bell Shakespeare he has appeared in Othello, Antony and Cleopatra and was a member of The Players. His other credits include I Call My Brothers for Melbourne Theatre Company, and Emerald City and Noises Off for Queensland Theatre and MTC. His screen credits include Tomorrow When the War Began, Glitch, Offspring, Rescue Special Ops and Dance Academy.

S1 Ep7: Toby Schmitz

Hamlet from Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Toby Schmitz 

In this episode, James is joined by award-winning actor, playwright and director Toby Schmitz, who performs Hamlet’s first soliloquy “O, that this too too solid flesh would melt.” They delve into the history and background of Toby’s favourite Shakespeare play, pulling apart the language and how different actors have approached the role. Toby has performed for Bell Shakespeare in John Bell’s 2011 production of Much Ado About Nothing. His other theatre credits include productions with Belvoir and Sydney Theatre Company. On screen he has appeared in the HBO miniseries The Pacific as well as starring as pirate Jack Rackham in the Starz TV series Black Sails. His writing credits include Chicks Will Dig You!, Capture the Flag and Lucky, for which he won the Patrick White Award. He most recently co-directed and starred in Thom Pain, a live-streamed theatre experience for Redline Productions.

S1 Ep6: Abbie-lee Lewis

Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 4 performed by Abbie-lee Lewis  

This week Abbie-lee Lewis joins James on Speak The Speech performing and discussing Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech from Act 1, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet. Abbie-lee discusses dreamers and realists in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, how iambic pentameter ‘clicked’ Shakespeare into place for her, and the importance of representation in the arts. Abbie-lee is a graduate of WAAPA. She has performed with Bell Shakespeare as part of The Players and has appeared in productions for young people of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth. Most recently she was Assistant Director on Peter Evans' 2020 production of Hamlet.  

S1 Ep5: Hazem Shammas

Coriolanus from Coriolanus Act 3, Scene 3 performed by Hazem Shammas 

 

Hazem Shammas joins James to speak about a speech from Act 3, Scene 3 of Coriolanus. They discuss ambition, power and tyrants in Shakespeare’s work and in our world today. Hazem talks about being introduced to Shakespeare at school by his English teacher and how years later he revisited the works while becoming an actor. Hazem Shammas is a graduate of WAAPA and has appeared for Bell Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors and Macbeth. He is a Logie Award-winning and AACTA-nominated actor.

S1 Ep4: Mandy Bishop

Feste from Twelfth Night Act 5, Scene 1 performed by Mandy Bishop 

 

In this episode James is joined by Mandy Bishop, who delves into Feste’s closing song of Twelfth Night, “When that I was and a little tiny boy,” and discusses the lovers and fools of Shakespeare’s comedies. Mandy Bishop is an actor and singer, recently appearing in Bell Shakespeare’s 2019 production of Much Ado About Nothing. She is a regular star of Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf Revue, and is the creator of the award-winning TV series At Home With Julia, featuring her famous portrayal of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

S1 Ep3: Kylie Bracknell

Ross from Macbeth Act 4, Scene 3 performed by Kylie Bracknell 

In this episode, Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn] joins James to talk about her experience adapting and directing Hecate, a version of Macbeth entirely in Noongar, in collaboration with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare, supported by Wesfarmers Arts and premiering with a sell-out season at Perth Festival in 2020. 

Kylie has broad-ranging experience in the performing arts & entertainment industries including radio producing and presenting, directing & assistant directing for theatre and film, arts management, community liaison engagement, theatre development projects, and program management.  She is an actor, writer, TV presenter, voiceover artist, and master of ceremonies & motivational speaker from the south west of Western Australia - the Noongar nation. She has performed in shows such as The Gods of Wheat Street (ABC), Redfern Now (ABC), Ace of Spades, Stone Bros. and lent her voice to the character of Ally in the award-winning children’s show Little J & Big Cuz (NITV).

S1 Ep2: Leon Ford

Hamlet from Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2 performed by Leon Ford 

In this episode, award-winning actor, screenwriter, director and author Leon Ford joins James to unpack the remarkable "What a piece of work is a man" speech from Hamlet, and discuss why playing the young prince was a highlight of his career. Leon’s Bell Shakespeare credits include the title roles in Hamlet and Tartuffe. On screen he has starred in the HBO miniseries The Pacific, ABC’s The Letdown and the upcoming Jeremy Sims film Rams. As a director, Leon’s first feature film, Griff the Invisible, premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and won an AACTA Award for Best Screenplay.  

S1 Ep1: Kate Mulvany

Richard III from Richard III Act 1, Scene 1 performed by Kate Mulvany 

Kate Mulvany joins James Evans to speak about the famous "Now is the winter of our discontent" speech from Richard III. They discuss Kate's experience playing Richard in Bell Shakespeare's production, how she discovered Shakespeare at university, and how she ended up discussing the famous playwright on set with Al Pacino. Kate is an award-winning actor, playwright, screenwriter, librettist and dramaturg. In 2020, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the Australian arts. She is one of Australia’s most respected and sought-after theatrical artists. 

Trailer

In Speak The Speech, Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Director James Evans brings a fresh, fun take on Shakespeare’s greatest speeches; performed, deconstructed and celebrated by some of Australia’s best-loved actors.  Launching on 28 July.