Shakespeare in Love

15 July — 17 August 2019

Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse

The Oscar-winning film comes to the stage in a boisterous romantic comedy directed by the illustrious Simon Phillips (Muriel’s Wedding the Musical).

Approx. 2 hours and 25 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.

Event Passed
Explore
This is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

'Lavishly costumed, with a wealth of comic talent on display, Simon Phillips’ production of Shakespeare In Love is terrific fun.'

The Age
This is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

'Shakespeare in Love is pure theatrical pleasure.'

Limelight Magazine
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

'From the moment the lights come up on the set, this show is a sumptuous feast for the eye.'

The Guardian
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

'Shakespeare in Love may be one of MTC’s most lavish productions in years, but it has an earthiness to it, a knockabout honesty and vigour, that is unstuffy and entirely winning.'

Time Out

More Information

Young Will Shakespeare has a bad case of writer’s block and desperately needs a muse. His new comedy, Romeo and Ethel the Pirate’s Daughter, is less than inspired and he’s running out of time to deliver his next masterpiece. That is, until he meets Viola, and a real-life Romeo and Juliet story starts to take hold. But Viola has a secret, and this damned Romeo play is turning out to be nothing like the comedy the Queen demanded.

Shakespeare in Love won seven Oscars in 1998 when Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes stole our hearts on screen. Now, Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman’s Academy Award-winning script has been transformed by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) into a side-splitting stage comedy with a stirring love story at its heart.

In a coup for MTC, this Australian Premiere production from acclaimed director Simon Phillips has been specially licensed by Disney Theatrical Productions. Don’t miss this unique theatrical event, which guarantees a rollicking night of romance and backstage fun, with lavish musical accompaniment.

Originally produced on the West End by Disney Theatrical Productions & Sonia Friedman Productions, directed by Declan Donnellan, and designed by Nick Ormerod.

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Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

  • Auslan Interpreted

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described Saturday 27 July at 2pm
Tuesday 30 July at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour Prior to the Saturday 27 July performance at 1pm
Open Captioning
via screen
Saturday 3 August at 2pm

Auslan Interpreted Saturday 10 August, 2pm
Michael Wahr

Michael Wahr

Will Shakespeare

Claire van der Boom

Claire van der Boom

Viola De Lesseps

Aljin Abella

Aljin Abella

Webster / Ensemble

Artwork for Luke Arnold

Luke Arnold

Marlowe / Ensemble

Laurence Boxhall

Laurence Boxhall

Sam / Ensemble

Tyler Coppin

Tyler Coppin

Wabash / Ensemble

Daniel Frederiksen

Daniel Frederiksen

Wessex / Ensemble

Francis Greenslade

Francis Greenslade

Tilney / Sir Robert / Ensemble

Peter Houghton

Peter Houghton

Ralph / Ensemble

John Leary

John Leary

Henslowe / Ensemble

John Leary is a graduate of Theatre Nepean and a proud member of MEAA. Theatre credits include Shakespeare in Love, North By Northwest, Private Lives, His Girl Friday and Realism (Melbourne Theatre Company); All My Sons, White Guard, Taming of the Shrew and Julius Caesar (Sydney Theatre Company); Peter Pan, The Business, The Book of Everything, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Marriage of Figaro and Cloudstreet (Belvoir); The Dragon and White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Malthouse Theatre); Just Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare). John also co-wrote and performed in the plays The Suitors and Vital Organs. Television credits include The Newsreader, Five Bedrooms, Glitch, Upright, The Letdown, True Story with Hamish and Andy, Get Krack!n, Upper Middle BoganLaid, Offspring, Tough Nuts, Woodley, All Saints. His US television credits include The Good Place and No Activity. Selected film credits include Pirates of the Caribbean V, Oddball, Red Dog, Where the Wild Things Are and the Tropfest winning short Lemonade Stand.

Current as of March 2023.

Adam-Murphy.jpg

Adam Murphy

Fennyman / Ensemble

Deidre Rubenstein

Deidre Rubenstein

Queen / Nurse / Kate

Artwork for Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan

Ned Alleyn / Ensemble

Artwork for Aaron Tsindos

Aaron Tsindos

Burbage / Ensemble

Artwork for Daisy

Daisy

Spot

Simon Phillips

Simon Phillips

Director

Gabriela Tylesova

Gabriela Tylesova

Set & Costume Designer

Matt Scott

Matt Scott

Lighting Designer

Artwork for Andrew Kroenert

Andrew Kroenert

Musical Director

Artwork for Andrew Hallsworth

Andrew Hallsworth

Choreographer

Nigel Poulton

Nigel Poulton

Fight Director

Nigel Poulton is an award-winning movement director, fight and intimacy coordinator, SAG-AFTRA/MEAA stunt performer and actor with over 25 years of professional experience. Nigel’s choreography credits include Finnish National Ballet, The Australian Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Washington Opera Company, Opera Australia, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre, Belvoir, La Boite and Kooemba Jdarra. Nigel’s film and television work includes DeadlockNautilus, Poker FaceThor: Love and ThunderEscape from SpiderheadDing Dong You’re Gay, Occupation 2, Pirates of the Caribbean V, Deadline Gallipoli, The Water Diviner, The Bourne Legacy, Vikingdom and Winter’s Tale. Nigel is a certified Intimacy Director/Coordinator with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators and has been awarded Fight Master status with the Society of American Fight Directors. Nigel is also a certified Fight Director and past President of the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc and an Honorary Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada.

Current as of March 2023.

Leith-McPherson.jpg

Leith McPherson

Voice & Dialect Coach

Artwork for Jacob Battista

Jacob Battista

Associate Set Designer

Artwork for Dann Barber

Dann Barber

Associate Costume Designer

Artwork for Janet Hine

Janet Hine

Associate Costume Designer

Artwork for Clare Springett

Clare Springett

Associate Lighting Designer

Artwork for Jess Burns

Jess Burns

Assistant Director

Playhouse

100 St Kilda Road

Melbourne , Victoria 3004