UQ Shakespeareans court a Supreme scene

The VIII World Shakespeare Congress, to be hosted by The University of Queensland in July, has inspired a troupe of actors to invade the state’s highest court.

In an Australian first, the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, a professional theatre company resident at UQ, will borrow serving judges and turn the Banco Court in the Queensland Supreme Court Complex into a theatre.

The ensemble has named its production Shakespeare`s Briefs – or – Let’s Kill All the Lawyers.

It will include trial scenes from Shakespearean works such as The Merchant of Venice and The Winter`s Tale.

“It’s very sporting of the judiciary to co-operate with the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble in this way,” said Dr Rob Pensalfini, a senior lecturer in UQ`s School of English, Media Studies and Art History who is Artistic Director of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.

"Perhaps it proves that many lawyers are frustrated actors."

Professor Richard Fotheringham, who is Executive Dean of UQ`s Faculty of Arts and Convenor of the VIII World Shakespeare Congress, said fun projects such as Shakespeare`s Briefs would help guarantee the success of the Congress, which will take place in Brisbane from July 16-21.

“This project is an initiative of the Supreme Court of Queensland Library, one of many organisations which has shown terrific enthusiasm for the World Shakespeare Congress.

“This is the world`s biggest literary studies conference, and we are bringing it to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time,” Professor Fotheringham said.

Other Congress-related court events include a major exhibition entitled Shakespeare and the Law, the highlight of which will be the display of Australia’s only copy of the 1623 First Folio - the first collection of Shakespeare`s plays.

Shakespeare`s Briefs will run from July 17-20 at 1pm and 6pm; July 21 at 1pm only. Tickets: $15 ($10 concession and groups). Duration: approximately 50 minutes.

Media contacts: Fiona Kennedy (University of Queensland) (telephone 3365 1088, mobile 0413 380 012 or email fiona.kennedy@uq.edu.au) or Jess Loudon (Publicity Officer, Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble) (mobile 0423 834 438 or email jessloudon@hotmail.com).

For bookings: bookings@qldshakespeare.org or (07) 3365 3269 (voice-mail).