John Anthony (Tony) Gilbert papers concerning the Bell Shakespeare Company, 1987, 1990-1995

MLMSS 8451/Box 1
MLMSS 8451/Boxes 2X-3X

fonds

1987, 1990-1995

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Ephemera, Clippings, Photographs

401929

0.94 metres of textual material, 4 scrapbooks (1 box and 2 outsize boxes)

The Bell Shakespeare Company was founded by artistic director John Bell July 1990, as the ‘Southern Cross Shakespeare Company’. On the 20th August 1990, the company’s name was changed to the ‘Bell Shakespeare Company’. John Bell’s vision was to create a theatre company dedicated to producing the plays of William Shakespeare in a way that was relevant and exciting to Australian audiences. Its first season opened January 1991 with Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice.
John Bell married actress Anna Volksa in 1965, and they worked together in Bell Shakespeare Company productions until 1994 when Anna stepped down from the stage with her place taken by their daughter Lucy Bell

Tony Gilbert AM, retired businessman and philanthropist. After from a trip to Europe in 1989, contacted Adam Salzer CEO of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust to discuss for a national Shakespearean theatre company and assisted in its establishment and planning. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Company in July 1990

References:
Compiled from the collection
Bell Shakespeare Company. http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/about/history (accessed 3 May, 2012)

This collection includes business records, scrapbooks and photographs:

MLMSS 8451/Box 1
Eight annual reports with audited accounts, 1990-1997

Annotated minutes, agenda and memorandums of the meeting of the Board of Directors, 13 September 1990, mainly relating to the founding, finance and planning of the first season of the Company. Includes planning notes, photocopy of certificate of incorporation of approval to change name, copies of actors contracts for plays and productions

Typescript of 'Genesis of Bell Shakespeare Company', by J.A. (Tony) Gilbert, 1995, containing a history of the company 1990-1993, with speech drafts for fundraising dinners 1989-1990 and draft article for J.A.G. newsletter, 1991

Publicity material, ca. 1989-1991, mainly newscuttings, flyers, magazines, media releases relating to the founding of the Bell Shakespeare Company and its first season. Also includes invitation to the launch, November 1990 and printed brochure

Photocopy of first draft edition of ‘The Satircal Rouge’ magazine edited by Patrick Dickson, by and about the cast of the company presenting Richard III, Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice, March 1992

Draft budgets, performance schedules and minutes of meetings for productions and tour, 1990-1991, includes annotated first draft of the budget for the formation of the company, draft outline of vision and plan by John Bell and minutes of directors meeting appointing J. Gilbert as Deputy Chairman

Minutes and agendas of meetings of the Australian Elizabethan Trust relating to pre-incorpation planning, company structure, sponsorship and fundraising activities, May-August 1990, includes draft planning documents and proposals

Letters from Adam Salzer and Wendy Blacklock of the Australian Elizabethan Trust to J.A. (Tony) Gilbert, relating to the establishment the Bell Shakespeare Company, with newscuttings, photograph of Tony Gilbert and magazine, 1989-1991, 1997

MLMSS 8451/Boxes 2X-3X
Four scrapbooks of newsclippings compiled by John Bell and Anna Volska, mainly relating to Bell Shakespeare Company productions and tours, 1991-1995 with photographs of John Bell in Richard III, Tara Morice and John Bell in Merchant of Venice. Also includes loose posters and programs of Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet poster, John Bell admission ticket to Government House 1987 and photocopies of newscuttings

Four photographs of actors from the Bell Shakespere company, 1993, including leading actors from Romeo and Juliet John Bell, Essie Davis and Daniel Lapaine with David Pumphrey Vice President of the MS Society of NSW and Kerry Chikarovski assistant NSW minister for Education and Minister for Consumer Affairs at the launch of MS READ-a-thon

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012