The John Bell Scholarship supports emerging performers from regional Australia to pursue a career in the performing arts. Last week we were joined at Bell Shakespeare by the four recipients of the 2025 John Bell Scholarship!
Annabel, Emma, Jonathan and Ryan joined us from Margaret River WA, Canberra ACT, Wyong NSW and the Gold Coast QLD for a week of training and mentorship with the Bell Shakespeare team and industry professionals. They worked with our Founding Artistic Director John Bell and Artistic Director Peter Evans, undertook acting masterclasses and training, Henry 5 rehearsals and took excursions to see live theatre. To conclude the week, they performed their winning monologues for Bell Shakespeare staff, donors, creatives and the cast of Henry 5. Joanna Erskine, our Head of Education, and the artistic team at Bell Shakespeare were incredibly impressed by how talented the recipients were. Enjoy our photo album below!
Bell Shakespeare has truly been a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. The friends I made, the lessons I learnt, advice and wisdom I was given are things I will treasure for the rest of my life - in and out of the arts. Coming from the South-West county town of Margaret River, where people like to talk about the swell more than the stage, means that opportunities within the arts have always been limited, now I have so much more confidence and drive to pursue my dreams with the support of the Bell Shakespeare community behind me. I truly can't express how grateful I am for my new-found confidence and knowledge of the industry.
Annabel Bancroft, Margaret River WA
