Canberra is currently the Shakespeare capital of the nation. The Bell Shakespeare Company has opened its national tour of The Winter's Tale here, and at a small-scale launching ceremony of a large-scale project in the Green Room of the Canberra Theatre last Saturday, the Artistic Director John Bell, AM, signed an agreement with the Swan Shakespeare Foundation of Australia making The Winter's Tale the first production in The Season of the Canon.
The Swan Foundation, the culmination of a dream of Hazel Treweek, MBE, OAM, will celebrate Shakespeare's canon by reaching agreement with companies across Australia to perform all of Shakespeare's 37 plays, all his sonnets and his five other major poetic works. Productions will take place from May 24 1997 to May 24 1999, commemorating Shakespeare's becoming one of the 'householders', with a 10 per cent share, of the new Globe Theatre in 1599.
There are currently fifteen companies, university departments and individuals in the Foundation's program, supported by a large range of sponsorships. Personal donations have provided the start-up money including a substantial amount from Thailand. The Thai Government was represented at the launch by Mr Krairawee Sirikul, First Secretary, Cultural Attaché.
The Foundation is seeking expressions of interest from companies under several category headings: professional companies; amateur companies of exceptional standard; community theatre and musical societies; university drama schools and societies; and a special category of professional children's theatre.
Contacts for the Swan Foundation are the President, Hazel Treweek (02-9416-3939) or the Artistic Director, Peter Edge (02-9743-6330).
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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