From star-crossed lovers separated by death to bloody hands and ghastly daggers, Shakespeare was no stranger to using violence as a poetic vehicle. While it all sounds a bit gory, none of it is ill-placed – violence is a key theme in Shakespeare's plays for a multitude of reasons. It forms the character arcs of our favourite tragic heroes, and keeps the twisted plots motoring along. It’s what makes Shakespeare’s work heart-wrenching and beautiful in a pensive kind of way.
If plotted murder or revenge for a father’s death wasn’t enough bloodshed for one play, Bell Shakespeare is taking scene upon scene from the playwright's best (and most gruesome) work and putting it all together in just 90 minutes. At the helm of it all is Artistic Director Peter Evans and a cracking line-up of actors.
In a Nutshell debuted in 2022 and, due to popular demand, has been reprised for Bell Shakespeare's 2024 season in this fantastic 2.0 version. Thanks to a brand-new cast and new, thought-provoking themes, you will examine Shakespeare's famous plays in a whole new light. Enjoy scenes from Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus and more.
In a Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence is playing at The Neilson Nutshell, Pier 2/3 Sydney from September 4 to September 8 for just six shows before travelling on to Canberra Theatre Centre in the ACT for two more. Tickets start from $45, you can book over here.