PRODUCTION PATRONS FOR KING LEAR MELBOURNE: KATHERINE BRAZENOR AND HER FATHER GRAEME

Long-time friend of Bell Shakespeare and Artistic Director's Circle member Katherine Brazenor was looking for something special to share with her father. With King Lear, she found just the thing.

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20.02.2024

What first sparked your passion for the work Bell Shakespeare does?

I am a barrister at the Victorian Bar and I have been a member of Bell Shakespeare's Artistic Director’s Circle for a few years now. My love of Bell Shakespeare first started when my school attended a production of Macbeth that was put on by The Players. I was absolutely hooked – I couldn’t believe how “alive” Shakespeare could be, when it is performed with love and humour and the kind of energy that Bell Shakespeare’s amazing actors bring to the task.

In recent years, I have been a member of Bell Shakespeare’s Development Committee, which does work in the fundraising space. After a few years of thinking about donors (both old and new), and the vital role that they play in Bell Shakespeare being able to not just survive but thrive, I decided to put my money where my mouth is (literally) and ‘step up’ by making a significant financial donation to the company in 2024. I wanted to do something special for my dad, Graeme and made the gift in both our names, so we will be co-production patrons of the Melbourne season of King Lear. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I couldn’t believe how “alive” Shakespeare could be, when it is performed with love and humour and the kind of energy that Bell Shakespeare’s amazing actors bring to the task.

We are so delighted to have you and Graeme as co-production patrons for our Melbourne season! Can you tell us why you chose 'King Lear?

Strangely, neither my father nor I have yet seen King Lear performed live on stage – so this promises to be a very exciting opening night! But it is a very special play to us. Allow me to explain…

Graeme studied King Lear whilst at high school (but never saw it ‘live’). One line that evidently stuck in his mind is the King’s lamentation in Act 1, scene 4: “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!" That little chestnut gets dropped into conversations with me about once a week… usually when he is losing an argument (I assume he won’t get a copy of this article to read, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

When I heard that King Lear was one of the plays that Bell Shakespeare would be putting on in 2024, I thought that it would be a beautiful tribute to my dad to arrange for us to be the Melbourne co-production patrons. We can finally sit together and watch the play be performed! He can expect an elbow in the ribs from me when “that line” is performed…

And isn’t there just something so delightfully passive-aggressive (sorry, autocorrect) poetic about a father and daughter co-sponsoring the Melbourne production of this particular play? I think the Bard himself (one of my celebrity ghost dinner guests, should the opportunity ever arise) would have been extremely tickled by it.

We can finally sit together and watch the play be performed! He can expect an elbow in the ribs from me when “that line” is performed…

What most excites you about the production? What are you most looking forward to?

Apart from finally hearing “that line” be performed live, I am so excited to watch a production go from day one of rehearsals to opening night. It is going to be an amazing journey, and such a lovely thing for dad and me to be part of together. As busy professionals we don’t spend nearly as much time together as we would like. This is a nice opportunity to do something special.

Why do you feel it is important to support live theatre? What does the live theatre experience mean to you?

Great art (which of course includes theatre) makes you feel things. It’s a huge privilege to be able to support the talented people who give us that gift.

What insights would you have for those considering supporting Bell Shakespeare and other Australian arts organisations?

People should not “self-select” out by thinking to themselves that their individual donation may not be “enough” to be worthwhile to an organisation. I promise, every little bit counts! As Lear would say, "nothing will come of nothing" – take the leap and get involved, at any level that you feel you can contribute. Supporting arts organisations is a wonderful way of being part of a community of people who share your love for interesting, beautiful, passionate art. It’s a joy.

Graeme and I are so grateful to Bell Shakespeare for giving us this opportunity. On with the show!

Want to know more about supporting Bell Shakespeare's mainstage production? Get in touch at giving@bellshakespeare.com.au. For more on our 2024 production of King Lear, click here.

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