The experiment continues … #Shakespeare Republic – the global edition
In what is now a tradition on the eve before the premiere of a new season, Shakespeare Republic Creator/Director, Sally McLean, reflects on the past four months and how she came to be directing a “surprise” edition of her critically acclaimed web series during a global pandemic while in lockdown. The pandemic that has the globe in it’s clutches right now has given us all a new sense of weird. When it first began, responses ranged from blithe dismissal to low-level anxiety. We distracted ourselves with baking (sourdough apparently a favourite), learning the limitations of Zoom, divesting supermarket shelves of toilet paper and reassuring ourselves that restrictions would only be…
Our new series “Dark Arcadia” is an ACF BOOST Funding recipient!
We have the exciting announcement that we are one of the lucky recipients of the 2020 Australian Cultural Fund BOOST Grant Program! Selected from all art forms across Australia in a highly competitive funding round, we are one of 22 independent artists, small groups and art organisations selected to receive this funding boost from the Australian Government for our new mini web series Dark Arcadia. So, how does this work? We are now running a crowdfunding campaign throughout May via the ACF, with the aim to raise $3,500 in donations. If we are successful in reaching our target, the Australian Federal Government, via Creative Partnerships Australia will match that amount, dollar-for-dollar, in the form of a grant to go towards…
New special season of Shakespeare Republic has launched! #AllTheWebsAStage #TheLockdownEdition
On the final day of this anniversary week for the Republic, which culminated with a Republic history-making first – our first livestream launch for the series (see video above) – Republic Creator/Director, Sally McLean, muses on the journey so far … When I first had the idea for Shakespeare Republic, many moons ago just after I finished working for the BBC in London in the late 1990’s, little did I know what it would grow to become – once I found the courage and means to make it a reality. Fast forward to five years ago, after a round of phone calls to a few of my favourite actors in…
Shakespeare Republic featured in new academic textbook to be published by Routledge
Shakespeare Republic is the subject of an entire chapter written by Republic Creator/Director, Sally McLean, for the forthcoming academic textbook Playfulness in Shakespearean Adaptations, due for publication globally by Routledge this July! Sally was approached by the fabulous editors of the book (Marina & Aidan – shout out to both of you!) and invited to submit an abstract (essentially an academic pitch document) for consideration in early 2018, and her chapter was subsequently given the green light for inclusion. After several drafts (huge thanks to Dr Steinar Ellingsen for his expert guidance at the beginning of this process!) and a round of editing suggestions from Marina and Aidan, the final chapter…
The Show Must Go Online – A kindred spirit in the online Shakespeare world
Looking for some brand new productions of Shakespeare to watch during this time of quarantine and lockdown? Republic Creator/Director, Sally McLean was recently part of a brilliant new initiative out of the UK – The Show Must Go Online – playing “Katherina” in The Taming Of The Shrew in their second live reading performance opposite an extraordinary cast of actors from all over the globe performing the whole play live online from their respective homes! Actors based in the USA, UK, Canada and Germany, with Sally from Australia, played live to a global audience – and you can watch the whole thing, as it happened in the video above! Described as a new and highly engaging form…
Shakespeare Republic Season Two finishes its festival run, plus … our next project looms for 2020 …
Eva Torkkola with Sally McLean & Billy Smedley at the 2019 Sydney WebFest Awards Night It has been a busy, crazy year for the Republic team and we have sadly neglected this blog as a result, for which we apologise! That said, if you are a subscriber to our newsletter, you will have been getting regular updates and if you have been following our social media, you’ll be pretty much fully in the loop. But for those who aren’t doing those two things, then here’s a quick recap of the past six months to round out 2019 … MELBOURNE WEBFEST 2019 Above: Kate Whitbread, Mike Cowap, Ron Brown, Sally McLean and Clayton…
Three more awards for Shakespeare Republic & we screened at Cannes!
June already?! This year is moving FAST! There are a few things that have been going on in the Republic camp that we’d like to share, including our recent French Premiere in Cannes, the amazing new trophies we get to add to our mantelpiece from London & Cannes and another official selection for the series on the international festival circuit! So let’s get on with it! OUR FRENCH PREMIERE! SHAKESPEARE REPUBLIC SCREENED AS A FINALIST AT THE COTE D’AZUR WEBFEST IN CANNES! Shakespeare Republic (Season Two) had it’s French Premiere as a Finalist at the Côte d’Azur WebFest which took place during the 72nd Festival de Cannes as part of…
#OzflixLovesTheBard! New competition in conjunction with Mr Moto & Ozflix!
Competition Time! To celebrate Shakespeare Republic streaming exclusively on Ozflix and being in development for Season Three, our fabulous Marketing sponsor, Mr Moto (Print & Distribution, Digital Screen Event Advertising) is helping us spread the word around #Melbourne with an awesome postcard and digital screen promotion in over 70 locations around town (and beyond!). And you get to be part of the fun! Here’s how … Simply #SnapASelfie with one of our snazzy postcards around Melbourne (be as creative as you like!); OR #SnapASelfie with our ad as it plays on one of Mr Moto’s digital screens found in over 70 locations; THEN Upload your selfie to your socials on…
NEW DATES: Playing The Bard: Shakespeare In Performance returns to Howard Fine Acting Studio!
“Playing The Bard” will now be running at Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia from Tuesday May 21 until June 25, and we’re excited to get back into the work! Shakespeare Republic Creator/Director, Sally McLean is bringing back her own unique take on the Bard and the technique she uses when working with her award-winning Republic cast, for another six week course that will help actors truly make Shakespeare’s words their own! “Sally’s knowledge of Elizabethan times as well as Shakespeare’s works was out of this world.” HEATHER ALLARDYCE (Actor) This six week course will enable actors to delve deep into Shakespeare’s text, create place and embody character, bringing Shakespeare’s words truly to…
Shakespeare Republic has the highest viewing figures of any launch on the Ozflix platform!
What a week it’s been! This time last week, Shakespeare Republic producers, Sally McLean and Billy Smedley, were getting ready to head over to ACMI in Melbourne for the presenter’s rehearsal for the 2019 Ozflix Independent Film Awards taking place that night. So much has happened concerning the Republic since then, it seems almost impossible that seven days have passed! But they have, so, with no more ado, let’s get to sharing the news! 2019 OZFLIX INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS What a fantastic night of celebrating Australian Independent Film the 2019 Ozzies at the Australian Museum for the Moving Image were! So much love in the room from and for Aussie…
All The World's A Stage …
