ELIZABETHAN drama came to Collie last Thursday with performance group Bell Shakespeare visiting Amaroo Primary and Collie Senior High School.
The group delighted students and teachers alike with their contemporary performance of Midsummer Madness and MacBeth Undone.
From the first line of dialogue students were enthralled by the performing quartet know as the Players. Sponsored by BHP Billiton, the group has spent the past month travelling and performing around WA.
Team Caliban was composed of Amy Hack, Shiv Palektar, Jake Lyall and Lucy McNabb.
The specially selected group went through six weeks of gruelling rehearsals and their polished performance showed it.
“Have you ever got stage fright?” one student asked.
“Of course,” McNabb said.
“It’s good to get nervous, it shows you care.”
NIDA-trained Shiv Palektar said while travelling around the country was tiring, he wouldn’t change a thing.
“What I love about this job is how we get to connect with people,” he said.
“We get to introduce a new generation to Shakespeare in communities where it may not be prominent.”
Former Perth resident Jake Lyall said he hoped the performance would inspire other to act.
“We try to make the play as accessible as possible to the students,” he said.
“If we didn’t, many would switch off.
“Our unique adaption makes it relevant while still keeping the original soul of Shakespeare.”
While enjoying the travel, Hack said if their performance inspired at least one student, then it was worth it.
“Sometimes it can really surprise you the kind of impact you make,” she said.
“Some students may start off a little unsure of what they are watching but it’s always so rewarding to see them quickly engage and enjoy our performance.”
