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In a year of groundbreaking firsts, Bell Shakespeare adds Othello to its repertoire and presents a new adaptation of the Russian classic, The Government Inspector. Acclaimed Australian director Marion Potts has been appointed Artistic Director of the Company's new development arm, marking a significant strategic shift for Bell Shakespeare.

The Company’s vision for educating a nation pre-empts the current political debate on the “education revolution”. In 2007, primary school children as young as five will hear, see and play the Bard’s characters, and teachers from remote and regional Australia will experience a national teaching Shakespeare Scholarship.

To start the year, John Bell’s Macbeth probes the nature of evil, an issue pertinent to the current world climate. Inviting insight into the notions of destiny and ambition, this new production stars Sean O’Shea as Macbeth and Linda Cropper as Lady Macbeth.

Bell Shakespeare presents Othello for the first time in 2007. Helpmann Award-winning director Marion Potts explores our racial mores in a production full of passion and power, starring Wayne Blair as Othello and Marcus Graham as Iago.

A year of innovation and surprises will conclude with a new adaptation of a Russian classic, Gogol’s The Government Inspector. A vibrant, fast-paced comedy exposing the foibles of government, this magnificent satire will thrill with its political savvy and the sheer joy of comedy, brilliantly performed by award-winning actors, Darren Gilshenan and William Zappa.

Acclaimed Australian director Marion Potts, as Artistic Director of the Company’s new development arm, will re-imagine Shakespeare and other classics, and engage a wide circle of artists including writers, directors and designers to create works that stretch the imagination and reach new audiences.

With both the Government and Opposition extolling the significance and importance of education for Australia’s future, Bell Shakespeare Education is leading the way with a programme to challenge students of all ages to imagine their futures.

Shakespeare’s legacy is his faith in the power of the individual and his belief in human potential. A new Regional Teacher Scholarship provides for 12 teachers from remote and regional Australia to attend a four-day intensive course designed to inspire the group to continue to bring the works of Shakespeare into the classroom.

Primary school students aged 5 - 12 years will experience Shakespeare’s characters brought to life in Bardistic Adventures. Evil villains and valiant heroes will inspire and engage the thespians of the future, encouraging them to sprout insults, cast spells and recite rhyming couplets with vigour.

Hearts In A Row, the Company’s hugely successful fundraising initiative for 2006, returns to serve the dual purpose of providing much needed support for the Company’s national education initiatives and enabling groups of less privileged members of the community to enjoy a Bell Shakespeare performance of Macbeth or Othello at the Sydney Opera House.

Visit www.bellshakespeare.com.au for details