IN A NUTSHELL: THE POETRY OF VIOLENCE Comes to Bell Shakespeare

Bell Shakespeare will present the second installment of In A Nutshell, titled The Poetry of Violence. An ensemble cast will perform scenes and speeches, guided by Bell Shakespeare Artistic Director Peter Evans as he takes audiences on a journey through Shakespeare's various depictions of violence. The production will open in Sydney at The Neilson Nutshell from 4 – 8 September, before touring to Canberra Theatre Centre from 13 – 14 September.

Offering a look into Peter Evans' personal thoughts on Shakespeare as he provides his own commentary, In A Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence explores how Shakespeare questions our relationship with violence. The production gives a comprehensive look at how violence is portrayed across various plays, from how he uses words to describe the limits of emotion and the rashness provoked by love and hate, to acts of gratuitous or political violence. The cast will jump from scene to scene from plays including Macbeth, Henry VI, Titus Andronicus, Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar.

The first cast members announced today are Nigel Poulton, normally known for his work behind the scenes as an internationally renowned movement and fight director who has worked extensively with Bell Shakespeare, and Darius Williams, a Sydney-based actor recently making his lauded Bell Shakespeare debut in the current production of King Lear. Poulton will join the ensemble cast and brings his expert knowledge of staging Shakespearean violence, giving audiences a glimpse at the mechanics at work behind the scenes.