The John Bell Scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students living in regional or remote areas who are interested in a career in the performing arts. Students are auditioned and work with a Bell Shakespeare artist, receiving feedback and direction. Only four students are selected from across Australia to come to our headquarters in Sydney and spend a week training with the Company. In 2024, Daisy Axon, from Baldivis, Western Australia, was selected to participate in the program. We caught up with Daisy, one year on from her scholarship.
What have you been up to since your scholarship?
Since my John Bell Scholarship, I’ve experienced some creatively fulfilling and inspiring acting opportunities that have further fuelled my love for storytelling on both the screen and the stage! Last year I was cast as Judith in the The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer, the third season of the critically acclaimed Australian series ‘The Twelve’. Working with and alongside an absolute powerhouse of a creative team, led by directors Madeleine Gottlieb and Emma Jackson, was an absolute joy! A truly special moment from filming was getting to meet John Bell, who I crossed paths with whilst on set in the Margaret River region of Western Australia! It was really wonderful to have the chance to express how much the John Bell Scholarship program has impacted me and give my appreciation and thanks in person!
Earlier this year in June I spent some time in Montpellier, the south of France, filming a UK Channel 5 crime-drama series directed by Sheree Folkson. I worked alongside British actor Joanna Scanlan, and despite not sharing a single scene in the entire storyline together, I managed to chat with British actor Robert Lindsay over the lunch break on set about his experience with Shakespeare and his stories from working in theatre. Reflecting upon the past year of working in the screen industry, conversations about Shakespeare have remained such a constant!
Following my time filming in Montpellier, I spent the summer in London studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on the Shakespeare Summer School! For four exciting weeks, myself and other students from around the world explored classical performance, played, took risks and stretched our own understandings of Shakespeare’s work through the invaluable mentorship and training from RADA tutors. I participated in a range of different classes including Clown, Voice, Movement and Stage fighting, and grew a deepened appreciation for the rehearsal process and Shakespeare’s ability to capture the complexity of human nature through his characters and stories. We also watched the 'Midnight matinee' of The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Globe, which was amazing! The final week of the course involved sharing our work – I presented Sonnet 9, brought Juliet’s Act II, Scene II monologue to life and became Edmund of Langley, the Duke of York in Act II, Scene I of Richard II! Like the transformative scholarship week that I had with Bell Shakespeare, I feel that studying at RADA and delving more into Shakespeare has really grown my love for storytelling on the stage (noting my professional experience as an actor has so far been on the screen). I’ve returned to Perth feeling very inspired and grateful for the creative opportunities that the past few months have brought!
What is your favourite moment or memory from your time with Bell Shakespeare?
The entire week that I got to spend with Bell Shakespeare was honestly a dream and felt truly life-changing! Observing the company’s rehearsals of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and seeing professional artists pick apart the story with such curiosity and enthusiasm, and share their own thoughts and discoveries, was really engaging. Workshopping our winning monologues and unlocking new ideas with the mentorship from Shelley, Emily and the education team was also amazing! From day one of the scholarship I felt so encouraged to play, take risks and was reminded to let go of the need to prove yourself – instead, to have fun, be present and take it all in! Looking back through the journal that I kept during that week, I’ve quoted down, in big writing, something I heard during the company’s rehearsals:
’The love that Shakespeare has for people is huge!’ When my week with Bell Shakespeare came to an end and I had gained such great insights into Shakespeare’s stories and the light that he shines on the complexities of humanity, I understood those words more than ever.
Photos from the filming of ’The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer':
What impact did Bell Shakespeare have on you?
Words don’t do justice in describing the truly formative impact Bell Shakespeare has had on me as a young person and an artist! I will always look back very fondly on the week that I got to spend in Sydney as a scholarship recipient – the entire experience truly reignited and fuelled my passion for storytelling and opened my eyes to the workings of a professional theatre company. I remember returning back to my home in regional Western Australia feeling incredibly inspired and empowered in following a career path in the performing arts, and with the knowledge that I had made discoveries, received advice and gained insights into Shakespeare that would remain with me for life. Whilst I was in London for the RADA course, I spoke to another person dining next to me at a restaurant who compared life experiences to a snow globe. It is often after a formative event that lessons and discoveries begin to settle like snow. It’s been two years since my time at the HQ, and the impact of the scholarship continues to be felt. I am forever grateful for the Bell Shakespeare community and the support that the team continue to show in my creative journey.
What encouragement would you offer to someone thinking about supporting the John Bell Scholarship program?
The arts belong to everyone, and Shakespeare belongs to everyone. By donating towards the John Bell Scholarship program, you are gifting a young person from regional or rural Australia a life-changing experience to be mentored and supported in their passion for performing. Coming from a regional area of Western Australia myself, I know that expanding access to arts education and training opportunities for those outside of metropolitan areas is vitally important! Bell Shakespeare recognises exactly that through the execution of the Scholarship, which provides emerging regional talent with the chance to gain invaluable insights from leading industry professionals, learn through exceptional training and grow with the mentorship from high-skilled and respected actors, directors and educators. Your generosity could truly open an inspiring door to the theatre industry for a young person interested in developing their craft and following a career path in the performing arts. If you're thinking about helping to open that door, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so!
Photos from the Channel 5 film set in Montpellier, Southern France:
What are your dream goals for your career?
Judi Dench references a Robert Browning quote in her book Shakespeare: The Man who Pays the Rent, which comes to mind when I think about my career: ‘Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, / Or what’s heaven for?’. My dream is to never stop learning, to keep on developing my craft, stay curious, take risks, collaborate with other creatives and pushing myself beyond my comfort – working on stories and bringing to life characters that challenge me and allow for growth! As well as acting for the screen, I very much want to continue growing my professional relationship with the stage and Shakespeare! I feel immensely grateful for the experiences I have had so far in my acting journey and am looking forward to seeing my path unfold further.
Photos from the Shakespeare Summer School at RADA:
