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KATE MULVANY OAM

Kate Mulvany OAM is an award-winning actor, playwright, screenwriter, librettist and dramaturg. In 2020, Kate was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the Australian arts.

Kate is a lead actor on the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series Hunters for Amazon Prime, produced by Jordan Peele and created by David Weil, in which she plays Sister Harriet opposite Al Pacino. She also starred in the recent acclaimed Foxtel series The Twelve for which she was nominated for a Best Actress AACTA and a Logie Award. Kate also recently starred in the Disney Plus series The Clearing as the terrifying Aunty Tamsin. She has also appeared in Fighting Season, Lambs Of God and The Katering Show.

Kate’s rich character work caught the eye of Baz Luhrmann who cast her as Lucille McKee in The Great Gatsby and more recently as Marion Keisker in Elvis. Other feature films include The Final Winter, Griff The Invisible, The Turning, The Little Death (for which she was nominated for an AACTA) and The Merger. She will soon appear in the new feature film Better Man, by acclaimed writer and director Michael Gracey, and in How to Make Gravy for Warner Bros, directed by Nick Waterman.

Onstage, Kate’s extensive roles include, for Bell Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth, Cassius (in Julius Caesar), Dorine (in Tartuffe), and her highly acclaimed turn as Richard of Gloucester (Richard III), for which she won the 2017 Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor In A Play, which she won again the following year for her performance in the one woman show, Every Brilliant Thing for Belvoir. Kate has also performed as Dr Stockman in An Enemy of the People (Belvoir), Regan in King Lear, (Sydney Theatre Company), Mary Warren in The Crucible (STC), and recently as Sarah Bernhardt in the Melbourne Theatre Company Production of Bernhardt/Hamlet.

Kate is also an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. As a screenwriter, Kate has written several episodes of the Emmy-winning animated series Beat Bugs for Netflix, was co-developer and writer on Upright for Lingo Pictures, and recently wrote on the new ABC television show Summer Love. She currently has two new series in development.

As a playwright, Kate’s adaptation of the Greek myth, Medea, co-written with Anne-Louise Sarks, has been produced around the world. Her stage adaptations of Craig Silvey’s novel, Jasper Jones, Kit Williams’ Masquerade and Ruth Park’s The Harp In The South trilogy had sellout seasons across Australia, with her Harp trilogy of plays being awarded the David Williamson Prize at the Australian Writers Guild Awards. In 2019, Kate became the first female playwright to adapt Mary Stuart for the stage for Sydney Theatre Company. In 2021, her adaptation of Ruth Park’s, Playing Beatie Bow opened the historical refurbished Wharf Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company.

Kate’s life story has been covered onscreen in the documentaries, Australian Story and One Plus One and on Australia’s current affairs show, The 7.30 Report.

ANDY GRIFFITHS

Andy Griffiths is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 33 bestselling books since their first title, Just Tricking!, was published in 1997.

In Australia, Andy and Terry’s books have sold over 10 million copies, won 80 children’s choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015. Their much-loved Treehouse Series has been embraced by children around the world and is now published in more than 35 countries. Five of the books in the series have been adapted for the stage and have all had sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera house, as well as highly successful seasons in the Netherlands, New Zealand and America.

Andy is a passionate advocate for literacy and in 2015 was awarded the Dromkeen Medal to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. He is also an ambassador for both The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation.

JANE CARO AM

Jane Caro is an author, columnist, broadcaster, advertising writer, documentary maker and social commentator. She has published ten books, including a memoir, Plain-Speaking Jane, as well as Just a Girl and Just a Queen, the first two novels in the Elizabeth Tudor trilogy. Just Flesh & Blood is the third and final book in the series. Jane appears frequently on Q&A, The Drum, Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise. She has created and presented three documentary series for the ABC’s Compass, with another in production. A frequent ad hoc columnist, she writes regular columns for Sunday Life and Leadership Matters. Jane divides her time between Sydney and a cattle property in the Upper Hunter. In 2018, Jane won the Walkley Award – Walkley Foundation’s Women’s Leadership in Media Award for a Non-Fiction Book Editing for her bestseller, Unbreakable: Women Share Stories of Resilience and Hope. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her "significant service to the broadcast media as a journalist, social commentator and author". In 2023 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the B & T Women in Media Awards. Jane has served on the boards of Bell Shakespeare and the NSW Public Education Foundation.

PROF LIAM E. SEMLER

Liam E. Semler is Professor of Early Modern Literature at the University of Sydney. His main research interests are: Shakespeare, literary studies and modern pedagogical systems; early modern literature and the visual arts; the classical inheritance in the Renaissance; and women’s writing from 1500-1700. He leads the Better Strangers educational research project which hosts the Shakespeare Reloaded website (shakespearereloaded.edu.au) and he is series editor (with Gillian Woods) of the Cambridge Elements ‘Shakespeare and Pedagogy’ series. His recent publications include: The Early Modern Grotesque: English Sources and Documents 1500–1700 (Routledge, 2019); Coriolanus: A Critical Reader (Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare, 2021); and, co-edited with Claire Hansen and Jacqueline Manuel, Reimagining Shakespeare Education: Teaching and Learning through Collaboration (CUP, 2023).

KYLE MORRISON

For more than 30 years Kyle has worked in the performing arts as an actor, director, dramaturge, stage manager, educator, mentor and cultural consultant. During his time as the Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin theatre company he directed 12 new works and was instrumental in the creation and development of the Noongar Sonnets program and Hecate, the first full adaption of a Shakespeare work into an Australian first nations language. The Noongar Sonnets project broke ground on the cultural collaboration between Noongar language and Shakespeare’s texts by creating six Sonnets (18, 44, 45, 46, 71 and 127) fully adapted into Noongar worldview and philosophical paradigm through Noongar language which were performed at Shakespeare’s Globe in London in 2012. The Junior Sonneteers Program in 2019, engaged 30 students (15 students of Noongar heritage and 15 of mixed and diverse heritage) from Perth to learn and perform the sonnets to select audiences. Kyle has also performed in three productions for Bell Shakespeare; A Midsummer Nights Dream (2021), Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet (2023).

SEAMUS CURTAIN-MAGEE

Seamus Curtain-Magee is an experienced inclusive educator working with students with additional needs for almost a decade. A bona fide Shakespeare nerd, he has used exploration of Shakespearean texts to extend and engage his students and introduce them to the world of Shakespeare. He is passionate about giving all students, regardless of their background, the opportunity to experience and enjoy Shakespeare’s worlds. An alumni of Bell Shakespeare’s Regional Teacher Mentorship (2020), he has supported Bell Shakespeare to run Artist in Residence programs at Kalianna School in Bendigo VIC, supporting students to stage a devised production of Macbeth in 2022 at the Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. Seamus teaches at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.

JAMES EVANS

James Evans is Associate Director at Bell Shakespeare. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Acting) and holds a Master of Arts (English) from the University of Sydney. For Bell Shakespeare James directed the national touring productions of Much Ado About Nothing and Julius Caesar, as well as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Bell Shakespeare's education program at Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne. As an actor he has appeared in Hamlet, Richard 3, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Henry IV and Actors At Work. He is the host of Bell Shakespeare’s podcast Speak The Speech.

James co-wrote and presented the acclaimed iPad App Starting Shakespeare (named Best New App by Apple in 17 countries) and co-directed the ABC Splash online series Shakespeare Unbound. He has been a visiting artist at the University of San Diego, as well as presenting a series of Shakespeare seminars in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Mumbai and Singapore. James’ work with Bell Shakespeare in juvenile detention centres is the subject of the feature film Kings of Baxter, winner of Best Australian Documentary at the 2017 Antenna Documentary Film Festival and the Supreme Jury Prize at the 2018 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.

EMILY EDWARDS

Emily Edwards (she/her) is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (Acting) and is the Resident Artist in Education at Bell Shakespeare. Some of her stage credits include a National Tour with The Players (Bell Shakespeare), Feste in Twelfth Night (Dir Tom Wright), The Young Wife in Hello Again (Dir Tyran Parke), Abigail in The Crucible (Dir Terri Brabon, Theatre iNQ), Fiona Carter in The Removalists (Dir Elsie Edgerton-Till, Sydney Theatre Company), and Kapowi in Kapowi Go-Go (Dir Rachel Kerry, Kings Cross Theatre). Her screen credits include Alive with Curiosity with Tourism Queensland, and Home and Away. In addition to performing, Emily has been a teaching artist for over ten years, having worked with Bell Shakespeare, The Australian Shakespeare Company, Theatre iNQ, Poetry in Action, and running an independent singing studio.

JOANNA ERSKINE

Joanna Erskine is an award-winning playwright, teacher, producer and arts education specialist. She is Head of Education at Bell Shakespeare, working with the company for sixteen years, overseeing artistic direction and delivery of its renowned national education program reaching on average 80,000+ students and teachers in 90% of federal electorates face-to-face each year.

For Bell Shakespeare Joanna is the writer of The Players’ in-school performances, established the primary Shakespeare program, co-wrote the award-winning app Starting Shakespeare, expanded digital activity and increased the Company's commitment to teachers through the Regional and National Teacher Mentorship programs. Under her direction, Bell Shakespeare’s acclaimed Youth Justice program has expanded into multiple states and regional centres. She has pioneered many Shakespeare programs for marginalised Australians, including the Women in Shakespeare program for Western Sydney girls' schools.

DAY 1 TEACHER SNAPSHOTS

Jessica Mant, English Teacher, Picton High School NSW
Jessica Mant is an English teacher at Picton High School, and was a participant in the Bell Shakespeare National Teacher Mentorship in 2024. She is passionate about literature and drama,and dedicated to enhancing her teaching skills and inspiring her students through innovative educational experiences.

Sarah Barnard, English and Drama Teacher, Tomaree High School NSW
Sarah Barnard is an English and Drama Teacher originally from Manchester UK. Sarah is an alumn of Bell Shakespeare's Regional Teacher Mentorship and has a keen interest in teaching Shakespeare practically to young students, particularly Primary students. Sarah has opened her own theatre school in Port Stephens NSW and has a passion for bringing Shakespeare to younger audiences.

Naomi EIliott, Cootamundra High School NSW
Naomi Elliott is an English teacher at Cootamundra High School, with a background in drama and performing arts. She is passionate about the transformative power of playmaking and believes that a play, by its very nature, should be watched and performed. Her approach fosters a deep appreciation for Shakespeare and enriches students' engagement with the texts.

Amy Perry, Drama Teacher, Knox Grammar School NSW
Amy Perry is an experienced actor, educator and director, currently teaching Drama in Sydney. She trained at Theatre Nepean and has continued to pursue her interest in Shakespeare, obtaining her MA in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute (UBham) and speaking and publishing on Shakespeare in the Australian context in Australia, in the UK and on her website: www.lethimroaragain.com

PANEL: INCLUSIVE SHAKESPEARE

Seamus Curtain-Magee, Bendigo Senior Secondary College VIC
Seamus is an experienced inclusive educator working with students with additional needs for almost a decade. A bona fide Shakespeare nerd, he has used exploration of Shakespearean texts to extend and engage his students, and introduce them to the world of the Bard. He is passionate about giving all students, regardless of background, the opportunity to experience and enjoy Shakespeare’s worlds. Since attending the Bell Shakespeare Regional Teacher Mentorship in 2020 he has supported Bell Shakespeare to run Artist in Residence programs at Kalianna School in central Victoria, supporting students to stage a devised mini-production of Macbeth in 2022 at the Ulumbarra theatre, Bendigo.

Pollyanna Nowicki, Actor
Pollyanna Nowicki graduated from NIDA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting). She has been teaching since 2012, including as a History Educator on Cockatoo Island and a musical director for Kids Up Front Drama Academy where worked with ESL students and children of various ages helping them develop confidence in public speaking. She went on to co-manage Sydney Theatre School and the Chippen Street Theatre for two years as well as teach most of their classes. She has taught for Bell Shakespeare, The School at AIPA, Imagination Theatre, ATYP, Ashfield Youth Theatre, Spark Youth Theatre, and Emu Theatre Co.

Curly Fernandez, Girls & Boys Brigade
With over two decades of dedicated experience as an educator and program facilitator, Curly is a passionate advocate committed to supporting education, creativity, and inclusivity. Having worked with organisations such as The Humour Foundation, Australian Theatre for Young People, Poetry in Action, Sydney Opera House, the Powerhouse Museum, and The Department of Education’s Arts Unit, Curly has honed expertise in engaging with marginalized communities. He passionate about fostering supportive, creative and imaginative environments for all young people to thrive.

Jessica Smith, English & Drama Teacher, Forbes High School NSW
Jessica is a passionate English and Drama Teacher working in the Central West of New South Wales. Originally from South-West Sydney, Jessica received a Teach Rural Scholarship and was placed at Forbes High School at the beginning of 2021. For the past three and a half years, Jessica has supported students to develop their love of theatre with a significant increase of student enrolments in elective Stage 5 and Stage 6 Drama. During this time, she has worked with students to overcome the challenges and negative perception of studying Shakespeare in a rural town. Jessica is a Bell Shakespeare Regional Teacher Mentorship alumn, completing the course in 2023. With this knowledge, she hopes to continue fostering a passion for the arts in her students.

DAY 2 TEACHER SNAPSHOTS

Tim Barklay, English and Drama Teacher, Moree Christian School NSW
Tim Barklay is an English and Drama teacher working in northwest New South Wales. He was an inaugural recipient of the Bell Shakespeare Regional Teacher Scholarship as well as the Regional Teacher Mentorship, and was part of the Bell Shakespeare National Education Advisory Panel for five years.

Jess Penny, English Teacher, Newcastle Grammar School NSW
Jess Penny studied a Bachelor of Communications Theatre Media (CSU) with honours in Communications Cultural Studies (UTS) and worked in a variety of production roles culminating in a period with Opera Australia. Jess began her education career in 2020 and joined Newcastle Grammar School in 2023 teaching English and Drama.

Emily Bosco, Lead Teacher Trainer, Into English
Emily Bosco is the CEO of Into English, a training and publishing company supporting Secondary English teachers and students. She holds a Master of English Studies and has been awarded the Sydney University John Bell and Joyce Williams Prize in Shakespeare Studies twice. For over a decade, Emily has designed and delivered transformative professional development courses for 7-12 English, empowering fellow educators to enhance their instructional practices and improve student outcomes.

Alison Roberts, English Teacher, Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus NSW
Alison Jane Roberts was born in Cambridge, England, lived in Canada for most of life, and now resides and teaches in Sydney Australia. She is an English teacher at Northern Beaches College, Freshwater Senior Campus and is an experienced HSC marker. It might be her English heritage that led to her particular interest in teaching the plays of William Shakespeare or perhaps it was a desire to shift her students' attitude from bored to zealous.

PANEL: SHAKESPEARE IN THE CURRICULUM

Sarah Peachman, Head of English, Forest High School NSW
Sarah is Head Teacher English at The Forest High School and has worked writing curriculum content, atricked and units of work for NESA, the Department of Education, Into English and the English Teachers Association. Sarah in an alumn of Bell Shakespeare’s National Teacher Mentorship program in 2024, and the company’s Women in Shakespeare program.

Lorraine Irving, English Teacher, Australind Senior High School, WA
Lorraine Irving teaches at Australian Senior High School in south-west WA, and has been an educator for the past ten years, specialising in Senior School and teaching low literacy through to ATAR English. She is a current alumn of Bell Shakespeare’s National Teacher Mentorship in 2024.

Samara Scharner, English Teacher, The Anglican School Googong NSW
Samara is an English Teacher from regional NSW, just outside of the ACT border. She currently teaches Year 7-10 but has experience teaching Early Primary and Year 11. Samara is passionate about encouraging students to express themselves and develop the skills to communicate effectively. She believes this is best achieved through exposure to and close active study of high quality literature - yes this includes Shakespeare! Samara has presented at literacy conferences and networking events to share her vision and is currently studying her Masters of Education in Teacher Librarianship. She was a 2021 recipient of Bell Shakespeare's Regional Teacher Mentorship.

Amy Perry, Drama Teacher, Knox Grammar School NSW
Amy Perry is an experienced actor, educator and director, currently teaching Drama in Sydney. She trained at Theatre Nepean and has continued to pursue her interest in Shakespeare, obtaining her MA in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute (UBham) and speaking and publishing on Shakespeare in the Australian context in Australia, in the UK and on her website: www.lethimroaragain.com

PANEL: AI & THE DEATH OF SHAKESPEARE

Matthew Esterman, Director of Innovation & Partnerships, OLMC Parramatta NSW
Matthew Esterman is Director of Innovation and Partnerships at OLMC Parramatta. He holds masters degrees from Macquarie University and the University of Sydney, and is the recipient of several awards including the Commbank Teaching Fellowship in 2023. He is a keen lifelong learner who believes we can bend the future using creativity, critical thinking, and compassion. He is a thought leader in the area of AI in education, including co-authoring The Next Word: AI for teachers.

Brad Horsburgh, English Teacher, Hills Adventist College NSW
Brad Horsburgh has been an educator for the past 16 years. During this time, he has taught English as well as Drama, History, Cinema Arts, and Philosophy. Brad is passionate about the teaching of Shakespeare to young people, the experience of live theatre, and engaging students with the complexities of studies of Philosophy.

Cecily Butler, Year 5 Teacher, The Scots College Brighton Preparatory NSW
As a passionate primary school teacher with over 20 years of experience in England and Australia, Cecily has a love of both literature and wordplay. She has a passion for teacher programming where she strives to inspire the next generation to be brave and innovative. When not in the classroom you’ll find Cecily listening to Audible while running on deserted bush trails.