• Project Updates,  Screenings & Festivals

    New project for Shakespeare Republic: “Speaking Daggers” the #Shakespeare film!

    We are so delighted to announce that since releasing the final episode of Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard (Season Two), we have filmed and have nearly completed post-production on our first commissioned film project for the Republic universe: Speaking Daggers! Starring Michala Banas, Nadine Garner, Christopher Kirby, Sally McLean, Scott Major, Faran Martin, Jaron Natoli and Billy Smedley, Speaking Daggers tells the tale of eight Shakespeare characters from five different plays who meet in the one setting and has been produced by Incognita Enterprises in conjunction with Independent Schools Victoria. Speaking Daggers will premiere next week on May 3rd as part of the Arts Learning Festival in Melbourne at ACMI Federation Square,…

  • Discussion,  Project Updates

    Shakespeare Republic on Book, Stage & Screen #interview #shakespeare #lovethebard

    Shakespeare Republic creator/Director, Sally McLean and Executive Producer/Ensemble member, Billy Smedley were delighted to be invited into studio to be interviewed by the lovely Samantha and Gordon Napier on their wide-ranging Arts and Screen show, Book, Stage & Screen on WYN FM on February 16. Dealing with everything from how do we select the pieces, to the Shakespeare authorship question, to the history of the Elizabethan playwrights, to what can go wrong on set when filming, this interview became so epic (at 45 minutes long), that it became a two-parter!  Both of which are available below from the Book, Stage & Screen YouTube Channel for your catch up listening enjoyment. Huge…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Alan Fletcher as a Silver Fox – S2E8 “Making Of” featuring Alan Fletcher & Nadine Garner #ShakespeareSunday #WebSeries

    Come behind the scenes of Alan Fletcher’s episode as Jaques to see what happens on our only Sunday shoot (hint, we’re a little hysterical), how much fun a smoke machine is on set, how awesome both Alan Fletcher and Nadine Garner are to work with (as well as all our other cast and crew) and the emotional psychology behind the choices of some of the shots from Director, Sally McLean. Featuring Alan Fletcher, Nadine Garner, Falon Ryan, Billy Smedley, Jahran Schansemma and Troy Malcolm (Cast), Sally McLean, Shane Savage, Shaun Herbertson, Tim McCormick, Cassie de Colling, Jo Fletcher and Marg Woodlock-McLean (Crew). Filmed at The Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne by…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Hamlet does backer shoutouts on sugar high – S2E7 “Making Of” featuring Michala Banas #ShakespeareSunday #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Seven, Season Two to see how we put together the episode. See how we got that drone shot, what happens when you give Michala and Sally too many lollies on set and then ask them to do shout outs to our Indiegogo backers (yes, the much awaited perk delivery for those backers is included in this ep), how well behaved Ruby the Super Pup was on set and how, despite this being one of our more serious episodes, behind-the-scenes was constant laughter and silliness. Featuring Michala Banas, Shane Savage & Ruby the Dog (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Billy Smedley, Tim…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Henry V does laser strike – S2E6 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Billy Smedley #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Six, Season Two to see how we put together the episode. See how we turn the peaceful surrounds of Lord Somers Camp into a battleground, just how much effort we go to in pursuit of the perfect audio, meet lead actor, Billy Smedley’s actual laser strike team (they exist and their team name is awesome!), and see the difference between RED camera raw footage and the magic created after colour grading. Featuring Billy Smedley, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Jackson, Amjinder Mann and Jahran Schansemma (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Tim McCormick, Marg Woodlock-McLean and Falon Ryan (Crew) and Ahren Morris, Jamie Hannah,…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    How do you make a crowd from 8 people? S2E5 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Wahibe Moussa #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Five, Season Two to see how we put together the episode. See how you can turn a group of 7-8 people into a crowd of 20, hear a little about the philosophy behind the season and the way we interpret these monologues, see some of the deleted scenes of this ep and witness the on screen debut of acclaimed Australian Director, Richard Sarell in his role as “Petruchio”. Featuring Wahibe Moussa, Richard Sarell, Jessica Martin, Taylah McLean, Sarah Penn and Marissa Tunks (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Billy Smedley, Tim McCormick, Paulie King, Taryn Gionis, Joel Gionis and Falon Ryan. Filmed…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard – S2E4 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Nadine Garner #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Four, Season Two to see how we put together the episode and get a taste of the fun and games of making an independent web series. In this video, we see how seriously Nadine takes making her fake whiskey for the ep, how we worked with the transformation of Nadine into a man, then into a woman again on set and the usual fun and games that go on among our cast and crew. Featuring Nadine Garner (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Cam Green, Billy Smedley, Tim McCormick, Shane Savage and Perri Cummings. Filmed at The Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne by Billy Smedley,…

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard – S2E3 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Christopher Kirby #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Three, Season Two to see how we put together the episode and get a taste of the fun and games of making an independent web series. Featuring Christopher Kirby, Faran Martin and Vuyo Loko (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Cam Green, Billy Smedley, Abramo Peghini, Paulie King, Marg Woodlock-McLean, Taylah McLean and all our fabulous Additional Artists: Katrina Climie, Lyonel Draper, Robert Jackson, Pankaj Kashyap, Stephen Moore, Daniel Oakley, Jordanka Petkoff, Pauline Sherry, Vivian Smedley and Stephen Wyley. Filmed at St Catherine’s School, Toorak by Billy Smedley, Sally McLean and Taylah McLean.

  • Behind The Scenes,  Video

    Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard – S2E2 Behind-The-Scenes featuring Falon Ryan #Shakespeare #WebSeries

    Step behind the scenes of Episode Two, Season Two to see how we put together the episode and get a taste of the fun and games of making an independent web series. Things covered this week include the importance we place on sound during filming, as well as the usual shenanigans our cast and crew get up to.   Huge thanks to St Catherine’s School, Toorak where this was filmed for their amazing support and for making it possible for us to film in their wonderful venue. Featuring Falon Ryan (Cast) with Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson, Bashir Towdiee, Billy Smedley, Tim McCormick, Shane Savage, Marg Woodlock-McLean, Taylah McLean Filmed at St…

  • Discussion,  Video

    Shakespeare In Prison – showing how the Bard can change lives

    The debate around whether Shakespeare is still relevant continues.  But while the discussion could easily be all academic, the real proof is in taking the Bard off the page and bringing him back to the people – all the people – in performance.  And not just as audience, but as participants. Which brings us to the point of today’s Discussion blog post.  While browsing Facebook last week, the video below popped up on my feed (thank you Facebook algorithm), which was fascinating and showed just how useful Shakespeare can be to us humans still – but only if we get to perform his works, rather than just see them, or…