The John Bell Scholarship (JBS) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students living in regional or remote areas, who are interested in a career as a performer. Interested students may book a workshop audition at Cube 37 during school hours on Tuesday 27 October, where they will audition and work with a professional Bell Shakespeare artist, receiving feedback and direction.
Each year, up to four students are selected from across Australia to come to Bell Shakespeare HQ in Sydney and spend a week training with the company.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to audition, students must be at least 16 years of age by 31 December 2026 and still be at high school full-time in 2026. Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply for the John Bell Scholarship. Every applicant must complete an online registration form which can be found here on Bell Shakespeare’s website.
How does it work?
Workshop auditions take the form of a 15-minute one-on-one workshop with a professional Bell Shakespeare artist. Auditioning students will perform a monologue from Bell Shakespeare’s 2026 JBS monologue list, available by clicking here.
Students will be encouraged to play and experiment with their chosen text to unlock their creative potential and deepen their understanding of the text. They will also have the opportunity to receive both direction and feedback on their work.
Visit the Bell Shakespeare website for more information, including audition tips.