The Players

Live performances of Shakespeare in schools and communities across Australia

  • 06 May -
    11 Nov

    06 May -
    11 Nov

    Sydney

+10 more locations in NSW+10 more locations in NSW

Fun, interactive, high-energy Shakespeare.

The Players are Bell Shakespeare’s touring ensemble of professional artists who bring Shakespeare to life in schools and communities across Australia.

1-hour incursion (50 min performance + 10 min Q&A)

50-minute performances are paired with a 10-minute Q&A for an action-packed hour of Shakespeare immersion. Plus, each show comes with its own comprehensive Online Learning Pack to ensure you can make the most of the performance with pre- and post-show resources and exercises.

Each performance explores key scenes and soliloquies, analysis of Shakespeare’s language, choices and themes and contemporary commentary all wrapped up in a fresh, modern narrative.

The Players are sure to be a favourite of students and teachers alike. Book one show or host us for the entire day. Let us come to you. We’re looking forward to delivering high-energy Shakespeare shows in your school.

The Players are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Bell Shakespeare is a COVID Safe registered business and is in regular contact with the Department of Education in regards to our work in schools. Our COVID-19 procedures and policies align with government advice as it is updated.

One of the best events of the school year! Students love it!

Arpana Pillay, Vardys Road Public School NSW

The Players were outstanding and really drew the students into the world of Shakespeare

Anna Brown, Mandurah Baptist College WA

Watch trailer

Years 3 - 6

Just Romeo and Juliet!

By William Shakespeare
Messed around with by Andy Griffiths
Adapted by Joanna Erskine

When Andy unwittingly auditions for a school production of Romeo and Juliet, he gets more than he bargained for. In his efforts to impress Lisa, he lands a minor role in the play. The only problem is, Andy's best friend Danny has won the role of Romeo, opposite Lisa as Juliet. Andy does all he can to derail the rehearsal and Shakespeare's classic love story with hilarious results.

Featuring Shakespeare’s original language within a madcap adventure, follow Andy, Danny and Lisa as they rehearse the greatest love story ever known. It’s Andy Griffiths’ beloved humour in a rollicking tale of Shakespearean proportions.

Discover more about Romeo and Juliet on the Shakespeare HubDiscover more about Romeo and Juliet on the Shakespeare Hub

Years 7 - 10

Shakespeare is Dead

By Joanna Erskine

If your students have ever asked “Why Shakespeare?” this is the show for them. A funny, provocative and fast-paced rollercoaster ride through the world of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare is Dead follows a group of teenagers trying to answer the age-old question – if Shakespeare is long dead, why are we still performing his plays?

Offering a smorgasbord of Shakespeare, from romance to tragedies to histories and comedies, students will be introduced to a host of Shakespeare’s characters, exploring some of his most iconic scenes, plot devices, language techniques, and even learn about the world Shakespeare was from.

An ideal taster of Shakespeare, featuring a collection of his ‘best bits’, and a wonderful way to blow any negative, preconceived ideas about Shakespeare to smithereens.

Plays featured include Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Henry V and more.

Discover more about Shakespeare's plays on our Shakespeare HubDiscover more about Shakespeare's plays on our Shakespeare Hub

Years 10 - 12

Shakespeare: The Human Experience

By Joanna Erskine

To this day, Shakespeare is unrivalled in his ability to understand and represent humanity on stage. By holding up a mirror to nature, he shone a light on our glories and flaws, and explored what it means to be human. This powerful show for senior students uses key speeches and scenes from across Shakespeare’s canon to chart representations of individual and collective human experiences.

Shakespeare: The Human Experience connects students’ own experiences with the universality of Shakespeare’s characters, and the wider world around them. Traversing youthful wonder, innocence, and first love, through to guilt, grief, loss, hate, prejudice, persecution, empathy, mercy, courage, and rebellion, we explore the complexities of the human experience through Shakespeare.

Plays featured include The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, As You Like It and Macbeth.

Discover more about Shakespeare's plays on our Shakespeare HubDiscover more about Shakespeare's plays on our Shakespeare Hub

BOOK A PERFORMANCE

Submit a booking form for 2024

The Players Performances

  • 06 May -
    11 Nov

    06 May -
    11 Nov

    Sydney

  • 06 May

    06 May

    Central Coast / Newcastle

    6 – 12 May 2024

  • 13 May

    13 May

    Newcastle / Hunter Region

    13 – 17 May 2024

  • 13 May

    13 May

    Southern Highlands/Goulburn

    13 – 17 May 2024

  • 03 Jun

    03 Jun

    Wollongong / Nowra

    3 – 7 June 2024

  • 10 Jun

    10 Jun

    Port Macquarie / Nambucca

    10 – 14 June 2024

  • 10 Jun

    10 Jun

    Far / South Coast

    10 – 14 June 2024

  • 17 Jun

    17 Jun

    Coffs Harbour

    17 – 21 June 2024

  • 24 Jun

    24 Jun

    Ballina / Byron Bay

    24 – 28 June 2024

  • 12 Aug

    12 Aug

    Bathurst / Orange

    12 – 16 August 2024

  • 19 Aug

    19 Aug

    Mudgee / Dubbo

    19 – 23 August 2024

Primary Performances:
$1,050 per performance for up to 140 students. Additional students $7.50 each up to maximum audience of 200.

Secondary Performances:

$1,300 per performance for up to 140 students. Additional students $9 each up to maximum audience of 200.
$1,100 per performance for schools with an ICSEA value of 1000 or less, for up to 140 students. Additional students $8 each up to maximum audience of 200.

Check your school’s ICSEA value at My School.

The Players’ performances are GST exempt.

Subsidies
Schools experiencing financial, socioeconomic and/or geographic challenges may apply for a Sharing Shakespeare subsidy.