Bendigo Shakespeare and Literary Society

Table of Contents

Established in 1861, the Bendigo Shakespeare Society gave its first performance at the Theatre Royal in aid of the hospital. Two plays and a farce were performed.

The Society lapsed after a few years and was reconstituted on 23 April (Shakespeare's birthday) 1885, the elected president being Mr J. N. Abbott. Among the members were such leading Bendigo citizens as Mr A. Mackay, Dr Quick and the Reverend Garlick.

In subsequent years the Society again faltered but was revived in the early 1920s as the Bendigo Shakespeare Reading and Literary Society.

Over the years, the Society has served the Bendigo community by making literary readings, local performances and guest speakers available to it.

• To foster an awareness of the importance of literature in general and Shakespeare's works in particular.
• To encourage the study and appreciation of literature in the Bendigo community.
• To organise lectures, seminars, discussion groups and other gatherings on literary topics.
• To promote excellence in the study of literature through providing awards and prizes at local educational institutions.
• To facilitate and support the reading and production of Shakespeare's plays in the Bendigo region.
• To support societies and associations elsewhere which have similar objectives.

In accordance with its stated aims to encourage and support the study of literature, and in particular the works of Shakespeare, the Society sponsors an annual Shakespeare Prize.

The prize is open to all first year students in the study of Literature at La Trobe University, Bendigo. Students are required to submit an essay on a Shakespearian play as part of the normal course assessment, and short-listed essays are submitted to the Society for judging. The Prize is awarded at the November meeting each year. This acknowledges, encourages and praises the efforts of local students.

In 2005, the Shakespeare Prize was awarded to Leah Cullen. The essays by Gill Rosier and Sally Richards were highly commended.

• President: John Penwill
• Vice-President: John Clancy
• Secretary/Treasurer: Terry Mills
• Committee Members: Andrew Huntly, Frances Mills.

For information about the Society, including membership and fees, please contact the Secretary by

• telephone on +61 (03) 54.42.67.40
• writing to The Secretary, Bendigo Shakespeare and Literary Society, PO Box 214, Bendigo 3552, Vic., Australia
• sending email to Terry Mills

• Tuesday 2 May, 8 pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo
  Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration
  Readings, music, and refreshments including a toast to the Bard. Please bring a piece of Shakespeare to read and share.
• Tuesday 23 May, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo
  Bendigo launch of a new book of poetry. Meet the authors, hear them read, buy a copy of the book, ask the authors to sign it.
  Beryl Doble and Ro Marriott, Voices Against the Wind (Ginninderra Press, Canberra, 2006)
• Sunday 23 July, 3pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo
  (presented in association with Bendigo Irish Association)
  John Clancy, The Wexford (Ireland) Mummers' Plays
• Sunday 20 August, 3pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo
  Francine Rochford, Sex, Certainty and Status in Jane Austen's England
• Tuesday 3 October, 8pm, Old Fire Station, View St., Bendigo
  Frances Mills, Did Jane Austen Read "The Monk"?
• Tuesday 28 November, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo
  Presentation of The Shakespeare Prize.
  Readings, presentations and refreshments. Please bring your readings to share.

• 26 April, 8 pm, Old Fire Station, View St., Bendigo.
  Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration
  Mr John Clancy, The Elizabethan and Early Jacobean Boys' Theatre Companies
• 24 May, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Dr Brian Coman, Island Literature
  Mrs Frances Mills, Shakespeare at the Ballet
• 26 July, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Mr Maurie Nestor, A Serious Look at National Anthems
• 23 August, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Rev Fr Bob Drake, The Bible: Literary Approaches
• 27 September, 8pm, Old Fire Station, View St., Bendigo.
  Dr Roger Sworder, Metaphysics of the Professions
• 25 October, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Mr Andrew Huntley, Providence, Christian Civilisation and the Australian Explorers
• 22 November, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Presentation of The Shakespeare Prize. Members and guests only please.

• 11 May, 8 pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration with Presidential Address by Dr Brian Coman, Shinyseat Collection, followed by Shakespeare Trivia Quiz with Dr Bernard Street as quiz master.
• 28 July, 8pm, Sacred Heart Cathedral Hall, Short St., Bendigo.
  Mr John Clancy, The distinguishing features of late 19th and 20th century Irish drama: The world of Boucicault, Synge, O'Casey and Brian Friel.
• 24 August, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Mr Robert Rorke, Thoroughly modern milieux: The enquiring woman in nineteenth century fictions of detection.
• 28 September, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Mr Maurie Nestor, The search for a father: Readings from "Huckleberry Finn".
• 26 October, 8pm, Dudley House, View St., Bendigo.
  Dr Roger Sworder, Metaphysics of spectator sports.
• Date and venue to be announced
  Presentation of The Shakespeare Prize. Members and guests only please.

• 25 March, 8 pm, Room 3.03, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mrs Frances Mills, A Classical Study of Allusion: The Storm in Lucan's 'Bellum Ciuile' 5.
• 29 April, 8pm, Function room of Cultural Development and Events Office, City of Greater Bendigo.
  Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration.
• 28 May, 6pm, James King Hall, Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
  Performing Arts students in drama, music, and dance will be performing works based on Shakespeare as part of the 'Home Finals' in the national Shakespeare Festival.
• 26 Aug, 8pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mr Andrew Huntly, A Preface to 'The Prelude'.
• 24 September, 8pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mr Robert Rorke, Following the Signs: Conceiving the world through pilgrimage in 'The Book of Margery Kempe' and 'The Travels of Sir John Mandeville'.
• 28 October, 8pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mrs Beryl Doble, Much Ado about Nothing, Not much about Something.
• 25 November, 8pm, venue to be announced
  Presentation of The Shakespeare Prize. Members and guests only please.

• 26 March, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mr Andrew Huntley, Blake's States: Concentrating on Innocence.
• 23 April, (Shakespeare's Birthday) 8 pm, Lashmar's Café and Wine Bar, Penfold's Gallery, View St., Bendigo.
  Mr John Penwill, Classical Themes in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
• 28 May, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Associate Professor Vaughan Prain, Shakespeare on the Net.
• 23 July, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Dr Brian Coman, Bright Shoots of Everlastingness: Henry Vaughan and his poetry.
• 27 August, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mrs Frances Mills, Fanny Trollope.
• 24 September, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Fr Bob Drake, Raids on the Infinite Forest: the Literary Approach to Scripture.
• 22 October, 8 pm, Room 303, Arts Building, La Trobe University, Bendigo.
  Mr David Warner, N.I., Natural Intelligence: Blake and the shape of human thought.