Shakespeare By The Sea (Australia)

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Shakespeare By The Sea is a summer outdoor event held at Balmoral Beach in Sydney's northern suburbs, using a band rotunda as a backdrop.

Started in 1987 by David MacSwan, 2006 marked Shakespeare By The Sea's 20th anniversary. Although there are other theatre events in the world known as Shakespeare by the Sea, this event is probably longest running event of this name in the world as it predates Shakespeare by the Sea, Halifax which was founded in 1994. Shakespeare By The Sea is supported by donations from the audience at the end of each show. Each summer, from January to early March, two plays are performed in repertory.

Shakespeare By The Sea has performed many of the works in Shakespeare's cannon including, Henry IV (parts 1 and 2), Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet. In 2005 Shakespeare By The Sea presented The Taming of the Shrew, with The Tamer Tamed by John Fletcher.

Actors who have performed in Shakespeare By The Sea productions, include Gregor Jordan, who played Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice who later directed the films Two Hands (1999), Buffalo Soldiers (2001), and Ned Kelly (2003).

[edit] Past Productions

1986 A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night
1987 Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew
1988 The Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth
1989 As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing
1990 Othello and Richard 3
1991 Henry IV parts 1 & 2
1992 Henry V & The Merchant of Venice
1993 The Comedy of Errors and Hamlet
1994 The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Tempest
1996 The Comedy of Errors and Macbeth
1997 Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night
2002 Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest
2003 Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream
2004 Twelfth Night and The Comedy of Errors
2005 The Taming of the Shrew and The Tamer Tamed
2006 The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing
2007 The Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like It
2008 Richard III and Macbeth

[edit] References

Armstrong, Maria. "Accessible theatre, if the tempest stays offshore ". Sydney Morning Herald Northern Herald 13 Jan 1994 p.11
Freeman, Jane. "Bard's big outdoors ". Sydney Morning Herald Metro 10 February 1995 p.3
"Bard at Balmoral now a hot property". Sydney Morning Herald Northern Herald 28 August 1997 p.2
Lobley, Katrina. "Midsummer night's dream". Sydney Morning Herald Metro January 7, 2005 p.24