Bogan Shakespeare:26JULY2024
If you’re a proud flannel-wearing bogan but you fancy a smart, satirical Shakespearean experience on a wintry Friday’s night, go no further than historic Memorial Hall in downtown Hami Hill this July.
The City of Cockburn’s Arts and Culture team is excited to deliver Bogan Shakespeare’s hilarious rendition of Romeo and Juliet on Friday 26 July at the distinctive limestone hall, a community icon in Hamilton Hill for 99 years.
Set against the tense backdrop of a Western Derby, this enduring love story unfolds in the outer Perth suburb of Ellenbrook as the respective AFL-loving households of Romeo and Juliet prepare for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers to do battle.
This entertaining retelling has its roots in a timeless fascination for Shakespeare’s 37 plays, and the many new ways to interpret the Bard’s famous yarns, often for new audiences.
City of Cockburn Art and Culture Coordinator Cassandra Cooper said people were often surprised by how relatable the works of Shakespeare were, but there was a perception of limited opportunities to experience it for themselves.
“We are working to expand the rich, diverse arts and cultural scene in Cockburn and offering something as accessible as Bogan Shakespeare is just one way to do this,” Ms Cooper said.
“We know many people find these comedic retellings easy to appreciate and they are often more affordable and held in venues which are not perceived as too formal or overwhelming.
“It’s exciting to involve new audiences keen to participate in arts and culture on a local level.”
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett is a great supporter of Cockburn’s long-standing arts and cultural community which had in turn created a local appetite for the arts over many decades.
“The City is working to shine a light on arts and culture and its appreciation in Cockburn, to give it a higher profile and help it strengthen and continue to grow,” Mayor Howlett said.
“The unique Bogan Shakespeare experience is one of a myriad ways we as a City are giving our community ways to appreciate the arts, and perhaps share it with family and friends, and hopefully inspire their own artistic pursuits.
“An opportunity to appreciate arts and culture is fundamental to us all in a healthy, inclusive and diverse community.”
The City is partnering with CircuitWest to bring Bogan Shakespeare to Cockburn and $15 tickets are now available
online.