Bell Shakespeare is on a mission to inspire and engage audiences by bringing the works of playwright William Shakespeare to life. Founded in a circus tent in 1990 by actor and director John Bell AO, the company has grown into one of Australia’s most respected national theatre organisations. For over 35 years, Bell Shakespeare has toured across Australia, ensuring Shakespeare remains accessible to all Australians.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is proud to celebrate five years of partnership with Bell Shakespeare. Through our partnership, students gain the opportunity to work with one of Australia’s most influential arts organisations.

Bell Shakespeare has hosted student interns in a range of disciplines, from media and communications to theatre and performance studies. Each year, students complete a unique project tailored to their interest and aligned with the company’s priorities. Master of Museum and Heritage Studies student, Beatrice Waller, recently completed a 10-week placement, focusing on the history of philanthropy at Bell Shakespeare. Rather than focus on chronology and numbers, Beatrice’s project aimed to find the thread that motivates advocates to consistently support Bell Shakespeare.

During her internship, Beatrice explored the theatre company’s archives and conducted interviews with key supporters from across its history. This included Michael Chaney AO, Chair of Wesfarmers, Bell Shakespeare’s longest-standing partner for over 28 years. Beatrice also had the opportunity to interview founder John Bell AO, adding first-hand insight into the company’s early years.

Beatrice’s project revealed that even as time has passed, Bell Shakespeare’s mission has remained constant: to make Shakespeare accessible to everyone, everywhere. It’s this unchanging and enduring mission to serve the community, wherever they may be, that draws supporters to the theatre company.

Reflecting on her experience, Beatrice said, “My time with Bell Shakespeare was extremely valuable for my skill development and networking in the arts industry. Every interview resulted in a conversation that was fascinating and personal and showed how connected the Bell Shakespeare community is.”

“My placement resulted in me learning skills that I can directly apply in my professional life going. On top of that, I developed some really valuable industry connections that will help me as I continue to develop my career in the sector.”

Beatrice’s supervisor and Partnerships Manager at Bell Shakespeare, Elle Hrobat, spoke about the value interns bring for both students and the organisations they work with.

“I’ve always believed that internships should not be a box-ticking exercise, but a meaningful experience that benefits both the student and the company. Beatrice brought an emotional intelligence to this project which is hard to find. We made intriguing discoveries about the past while ensuring that we capture the significant voices that have shaped Bell Shakespeare’s 35-year history,” says Elle.

The University's partnership with Bell Shakespeare demonstrates that when organisations come together, they honour tradition while nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers, or as Shakespeare wrote in Henry VI, 'Thy friendship makes us fresh'.