Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare

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.

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.  

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).

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.  

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. 

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.