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Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare

by Bell Shakespeare

A fresh, fun take on Shakespeare’s greatest speeches; performed, deconstructed and celebrated by some of Australia’s best-loved actors. From Australia's national Shakespeare company.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Apr 15, 2026. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. S3 Ep12: Lisa McCune

    Desdemona from Othello Act 4, Scene 2 performed by Lisa McCune This week, for our final episode of Season 3 of Speak The Speech, we are joined by one of Australia’s most popular and successful screen and theatre actors, Lisa McCune. Lisa performs Desdemona’s speech from Act 4, Scene 2 of Othello...

  2. S3 Ep11: Gregory Doran

    Julius Caesar from Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 performed by Greg Doran “If theatre holds a mirror up to nature, and you don’t see yourself reflected in that mirror, then why should you engage with it?” This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by “one of the great Shakespeareans of his...

  3. S3 Ep10: Laura Murphy

    Oberon from A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act 2, Scene 1 performed by Laura Murphy "This is the type of show that could be seen anywhere and could speak to anyone, or at least that’s what my hope, that’s my dream.” This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by performer, writer and composer Laura...

  4. S3 Ep9: Rachael Maza

    Ariel from The Tempest Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Rachael Maza “As much as I struggled with the works themselves in terms of these broader themes, and I guess what was important to me; I do love the art. The craft of getting your mouth around Shakespeare. I love the language.” This week on Speak...

  5. S3 Ep8: Ben Crystal

    Leontes from The Winter’s Tale Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Ben Crystal This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by actor, author and creative producer, Ben Crystal. Ben performs a speech from The Winter’s Tale and shares his knowledge of received and original pronunciation in Shakespeare’s...

  6. S3 Ep7: Sarah Blasko

    Polonius from Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3 performed by Sarah Blasko This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by Australian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer Sarah Blasko. Recorded live in Sydney in June 2022, in this episode Sarah gives us a sneak peek into her work composing for…

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  7. S3 Ep6: David McInnis

    Macbeth from Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5 performed by David McInnis “The play is a living, thriving organism that changes day to day.” This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by award-winning scholar, David McInnis. David performs an excerpt from Macbeth and discusses the dramatic convention of...

  8. S3 Ep5: Matu Ngaropo

    Othello from Othello Act 1, Scene 3 performed by Matu Ngaropo This week on Speak The Speech we are joined by Matu Ngaropo. Matu performs and unpacks Othello’s speech from Act 1, Scene 3. He shares how Māori culture and language influences his approach to Shakespeare, the experience of performing…

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  9. S3 Ep4: Jess Chambers

    Romeo from Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2 performed by Jess Chambers This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by voice, dialect and text coach Jess Chambers. In this episode, Jess discusses what drew her to voice and text coaching, what it’s like to prepare a company of actors vocally to...

  10. S3 Ep3: Janine Watson

    Thomas More from Sir Thomas More performed by Janine Watson “The Comedy of Errors – the received perception of it is lightweight, thin, a bit of fluff, a diversion; actually it is quite the opposite... it is a play about people trying to find themselves, and connect to love. “ This week on Speak...

  11. S3 Ep2: Maitland Schnaars

    Richard II from Richard II Act 5, Scene 5 performed by Maitland Schnaars This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by one of Western Australia’s premier Indigenous contemporary theatre artists, Maitland Schnaars. In this episode, Maitland discusses his role in the 2022 touring production of…

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  12. S3 Ep1: Andy Griffiths

    Andy from Just Macbeth! by Andy Griffiths performed by Andy Griffiths Welcome to season three of Bell Shakespeare’s podcast Speak The Speech! In this episode, Andy Griffiths talks to host James Evans about writing his Shakespeare adaptions Just Macbeth! and Just Romeo & Juliet!, how he inserts...

  13. S2 Ep12: Grace Truman

    Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing Act 4, Scene 1 performed by Grace Truman In the final episode of Season Two of Speak The Speech Grace Truman join us to perform and talk about Beatrice’s speech from Act 4 Scene 1 of Much Ado About Nothing. Grace shares her experience as a young actor…

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  14. S2 Ep11: Kyle Morrison

    Duke Senior from As You Like It Act 2, Scene 1 performed by Kyle Morrison Kyle Morrison joins us on Speak The Speech to perform Duke Senior’s speech from Act 2 Scene 1 of As You Like It. He talks about building cultural legacy through art, his passion for decolonising Shakespeare and what it’s…

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  15. S2 Ep10: Gabrielle Scawthorn

    Helena from A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act 1, Scene 1 performed by Gabrielle Scawthorn Gabrielle Scawthorn joins us to perform Helena’s soliloquy from the opening scene of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She talks about playing Helena, creating her own work, what it’s like to audition with food…

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  16. S2 Ep9: Penny Gay

    Rosalind from As You Like It Act 4, Scene 1 performed by Penny Gay Professor Penny Gay joins us on Speak The Speech to perform and talk about Rosalind’s speech from Act 4 Scene 1 of As You Like It. Penny and James discuss women in Shakespeare, why Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing is Penny’s...

  17. S2 Ep 8: Paula Arundell

    Gloucester from Henry VI Act 3, Scene 2 performed by Paula Arundell In this episode Paula Arundell joins James to perform and discuss Richard Gloucester’s speech from Act 3 of Henry VI Part 3. They speak about the complexity of a ‘villain’ and how actors approach such characters in the rehearsal...

  18. S2 Ep7: Michael Chaney

    Richard II from Richard II Act 3, Scene 2 performed by Michael Chaney In this special live episode, recorded from Perth, James is joined by Michael Chaney AO. Michael performs and dissects Richard II’s speech from Act 3 Scene 2 of Richard II. They discuss leadership in Shakespeare’s works and in...

  19. S2 Ep6: Yalin Ozucelik

    Iago from Othello Act 1, Scene 1 performed by Yalin Ozucelik This week on Speak The Speech James is joined by Yalin Ozucelik who performs and discusses Iago’s speech from Act 1 Scene 1 of Othello. They talk about the driving force behind Iago as a character, the challenges and joys of working…

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  20. S2 Ep5: Huw McKinnon

    Prince Hal from Henry VI Part 1 Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Huw McKinnon Huw McKinnon joins James on Speak The Speech performing Prince Hal’s speech from the Act One of Henry IV Part 1. Huw shares stories of his work teaching Shakespeare in juvenile justice centres, working with teachers to…

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  21. S2 Ep 4: Anna Tregloan

    Poem from Venus and Adonis performed by Anna Tregloan This week on Speak The Speech we are joined by Designer Anna Tregloan, who performs an excerpt from Shakespeare’s narrative poem ‘Venus and Adonis’. She discusses collaboration in the design process and how designers and directors work…

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  22. S2 Ep3: Jane Montgomery Griffiths

    Titus Andronicus from Titus Andronicus Act 3, Scene 1 performed by Jane Montgomery-Griffiths In this episode Jane Montgomery Griffiths joins James to perform and speak about Titus’ speech from Act 3 Scene 1 of Titus Andronicus. Jane discusses Shakespeare from the perspective of an actor and...

  23. S2 Ep2: Nigel Poulton

    Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 4 performed by Nigel Poulton This week on Speak The Speech we are joined by Fight and Movement Director Nigel Poulton, performing Mercutio's speech from Act 2, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet. He talks about fighting styles and their meaning in…

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  24. S2 Ep1: Ben Elton

    Hamlet from Hamlet Act 3, Scene 2 performed by Ben Elton Welcome to season two of Speak The Speech! In this episode, Ben Elton joins James to speak about Hamlet’s speech from Act 3, Scene 2 (the very speech our podcast derives its name from). They talk about Ben's discovery of Shakespeare and...

  25. S1 Ep12: Zahra Newman

    Rosalind from As You Like It Act 5, Epilogue performed by Zahra Newman In the final episode of season one of Speak The Speech Zahra Newman joins James to perform the epilogue from As You Like It. Zahra discusses her introduction to theatre in Jamaica, what it's like performing in theatre and...

  26. S1 Ep11: Darren Gilshenan

    Chorus from Henry V Act 1, Scene 1 performed by Darren Gilshenan In this episode actor and writer Darren Gilshenan joins James to perform and discuss the “O for a muse of fire” speech from the opening of Henry V. Darren talks about his favourite Shakespearean roles and productions, what it’s like...

  27. S1 Ep10: Harriet Gordon-Anderson

    Hamlet from Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1 performed by Harriet Gordon-Anderson Harriet Gordon-Anderson joins James to perform and unpack arguably the most famous speech in all of Shakespeare’s oeuvre from Act 3, Scene 1 of Hamlet: “To be, or not to be”. They delve into the world of Hamlet, pulling apart...

  28. S1 Ep9: John Bell

    Prospero from The Tempest Act 5, Scene 2 performed by John Bell This week John Bell joins James on Speak The Speech performing Prospero’s speech from Act 5, Scene 1 of The Tempest, and discusses his lifelong relationship with Shakespeare’s work. They discuss his career in theatre, from performing...

  29. S1 Ep8: Ray Chong Nee

    Emelia from Othello Act 4, Scene 3 performed by Ray Chong Nee Ray Chong Nee joins James to perform and unpack Emilia’s speech from Act 4, Scene 3 of Othello. They discuss misogyny and racism in Shakespeare’s tragedy and how creative teams address these issues in contemporary productions. Ray…

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  30. S1 Ep7: Toby Schmitz

    Hamlet from Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Toby Schmitz In this episode, James is joined by award-winning actor, playwright and director Toby Schmitz, who performs Hamlet’s first soliloquy “O, that this too too solid flesh would melt.” They delve into the history and background of Toby’s...

  31. S1 Ep6: Abbie-lee Lewis

    Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 4 performed by Abbie-lee Lewis This week Abbie-lee Lewis joins James on Speak The Speech performing and discussing Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech from Act 1, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet. Abbie-lee discusses dreamers and realists in Shakespeare’s famous...

  32. S1 Ep5: Hazem Shammas

    Coriolanus from Coriolanus Act 3, Scene 3 performed by Hazem Shammas Hazem Shammas joins James to speak about a speech from Act 3, Scene 3 of Coriolanus. They discuss ambition, power and tyrants in Shakespeare’s work and in our world today. Hazem talks about being introduced to Shakespeare at...

  33. S1 Ep4: Mandy Bishop

    Feste from Twelfth Night Act 5, Scene 1 performed by Mandy Bishop In this episode James is joined by Mandy Bishop, who delves into Feste’s closing song of Twelfth Night, “When that I was and a little tiny boy,” and discusses the lovers and fools of Shakespeare’s comedies. Mandy Bishop is an actor...

  34. S1 Ep3: Kylie Bracknell

    Ross from Macbeth Act 4, Scene 3 performed by Kylie Bracknell In this episode, Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn] joins James to talk about her experience adapting and directing Hecate, a version of Macbeth entirely in Noongar, in collaboration with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Bell...

  35. S1 Ep2: Leon Ford

    Hamlet from Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2 performed by Leon Ford In this episode, award-winning actor, screenwriter, director and author Leon Ford joins James to unpack the remarkable "What a piece of work is a man" speech from Hamlet, and discuss why playing the young prince was a highlight of his…

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  36. S1 Ep1: Kate Mulvany

    Richard III from Richard III Act 1, Scene 1 performed by Kate Mulvany Kate Mulvany joins James Evans to speak about the famous "Now is the winter of our discontent" speech from Richard III. They discuss Kate's experience playing Richard in Bell Shakespeare's production, how she discovered...

  37. Trailer

    In Speak The Speech, Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Director James Evans brings a fresh, fun take on Shakespeare’s greatest speeches; performed, deconstructed and celebrated by some of Australia’s best-loved actors. Launching on 28 July.

About this show

A fresh, fun take on Shakespeare’s greatest speeches; performed, deconstructed and celebrated by some of Australia’s best-loved actors. From Australia's national Shakespeare company.

Hosted by

Bell Shakespeare

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Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare have?

Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare has 37 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on November 24, 2022.

What is Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare about?

A fresh, fun take on Shakespeare’s greatest speeches; performed, deconstructed and celebrated by some of Australia’s best-loved actors. From Australia's national Shakespeare company.

How often does Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare release new episodes?

Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare publishes monthly, based on its 37 episodes since July 2020.

Who hosts Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare?

Speak The Speech by Bell Shakespeare is created and hosted by Bell Shakespeare.
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