Melbourne Shakespeare Society Home Page

The Melbourne Shakespeare Society is one of the oldest literary societies in Australia, having been in continuous existence since 1884. It has an active program which includes monthly meetings, and monthly readings of Shakespeare's plays and associated works.

General Meetings are usually held on the fourth Saturday of each month (excluding January). They feature an invited main speaker, often from the arts or academia, or sometimes a Society member speaks on one of their special interests. The talks may be illustrated by short prepared readings by members. As well, meetings may include musical items, book reports, sonnet readings and reports of Shakespearean related events.

Play Readings - The Society's Reading Group performs READINGS of the complete plays of William Shakespeare, in basic chronological order, on the second Saturday of each month (except January). In 2007 the group began a third reading of the complete Canon, over five years. The rehearsed readings are performed by Society members in the Ballrooom of the English Speaking Union, 146 Toorak Road West (between Punt & St Kilda Roads), South Yarra. Public transport access is by the Toorak Road tram or Punt Road bus. Rehearsals for Readings (first Saturday of the month) are notified by the Readings Convener (9525 4541)

Associated Readings of works which illuminate the Shakespearean Canon are interspersed with the Shakespeare plays throughout the year. These include Shakespeare's poems (eg The Rape of Lucrece), his contemporaries (eg The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe), classical drama (eg Menaechmi by Plautus), and modern plays for which Shakespeare is an essential reference point (eg Macbett by Eugene Ionesco).

The Society publishes a Newsletter, The Melbourne Shakespearean, with articles, poetry, reviews and reports of Shakespearean interest, which is available free to members and for sale to others.

There are very modest attendance fees at meetings and readings, and guests and new members are always welcome. For further information, contact the President or any others listed in the Contacts.

Items of Note

Special Event:   Wednesday July 9th, 6.00 pm. (refreshments from 5.30)
A free public lecture: Shakespeare on the World's Stage by Richard Fotheringham. As Convener of the VIIIth World Shakespeare Congress in Brisbane in 2006, and since then as principal editor of the proceedings from the conference, Professor Fotheringham has been uniquely able to chart Shakespearean performance around the world in recent years, particularly in Asia and the Midle East. This talk will survey this fascinating and diverse work.
Venue: The Griffin Gallery, 1888 Building,
           Grattan Street (near cnr Swanston Street,
           University of Melbourne
Queries/Bookings: j.freddi[at]pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

Our next Reading, to be held on July 12th, is Romeo and Juliet.
It will start at 1.00 pm. at the English Speaking Union, 146 Toorak Rd West, South Yarra. For further information, contact Paul on 9525 4541. Visitors always welcome. Cost $6 includes refreshments.

At our next meeting on Saturday 26th, commencing at 2.00 pm Peter Collingwood will be speaking on The power of forbidden love: the "new comedy" in Lope de Vega's Capulets and Montagues.. This play is scheduled to be our Reading for August
The meeting will be preceded by the Annual General Meeting at 12.30 pm.
The venue is the St. Francis Pastoral Centre, cnr. Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne. Visitors very welcome. Cost $6 includes refreshments. For any enquiries ring Paul Roebuck on 9525 4541.

27th June to 12th July, 2008. The Malvern Theatre Company is to perform Julius Caesar - "With a specially commissioned original music score, this contemporary version of William Shakespeare's hard hitting drama of the manipulation of the political system for one's own ends finds new meaning in an Australian political context." Our own Len Lawrence will be acting in the part of Mark Antony and Lex Ross will also be making several appearances.
DATES: Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.15 pm. Gala Night Saturday 5th July at 8.15 pm.
Saturday Matinee 28th June at 2.00 pm. Sunday Matinee 6th July at 2.00 pm.
BOOKINGS: Phone: 9569 3283
COST: $18.00 (Concession $16.00) Gala Night $23.00 (Concession $21.00)
VENUE: Malvern Theatre Company, 29a Burke Road, East Malvern
Theatre Phone: 9571 0020
www.malverntheatre.com.au

Bell Shakespeare will be presenting Hamlet from 16th July to 2nd August at the Arts Centre, Playhouse.
And later in the year Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome, A Shakespeare Commentary by Heiner Müller, translated by Julian Hammond; 26th November to 6th December; CUB Malthouse Merlyn Theatre.
www.bellshakespeare.com.au

The Hartwell Players are planning an all-female version of Julius Caesar in October/November 2008. More details when they become available. Or keep watch at www.hartwellplayers.org.au

We have now added our Rules of Association for the convenience of those members who want access to them.

You will also find information about coming events in the theatre world in Melbourne if you go to Whitehat, the Melbourne happenings page (he also does a nice line in weekly newsletters!)

Another interesting site to visit is www.bookandvolume.com.au. This is a 'virtual' bookshop based in country Victoria, which in addition to its wide range of books has a passion for things Shakespearean. There can be found information of events of all kinds to do with Shakespeare, his contemporaries and times.

Our President, Jason Freddi, has his own website. It features his Shakespeare-related activities, his music and various bands. The latter includes 'The Swans of Avon' who perform Jason's renditions of Shakespeare's songs. Check it out on http://www.jasonfreddi.com

DVDs, MP3s and CDs of recent Readings are available for a minimal cost. Anybody interested in obtaining one of these is invited to contact Paul Roebuck on 9525 4541.

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Updated July 3, 2008