In a Nutshell, there’s no holds bard in Bell Shakespeare’s new theatre

The Neilson Nutshell is the first purpose-built studio for Bell Shakespeare since the company was founded in 1990.

Actors Ray Chong Nee and Harriet Gordon Anderson flank Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans at the Nutshell. Picture: John Feder

With a line from Hamlet and $3m from Kerr Neilson’s family foundation, Bell Shakespeare has moved into a purpose-built theatre as part of Sydney’s expanded arts precinct at Walsh Bay.

The Neilson Nutshell, in the redeveloped Pier 2/3, looks less like a walnut than an open-plan, timber-lined studio with harbour views, but Mr Neilson and Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans say it will transform Bell’s capacity for theatre-making, creative collaboration and education.

The theatre can seat up to 300 people in different formats, and Evans said its acoustic properties could be adjusted for unplugged Shakespeare performances. “My interest is not in amplifying the actors,” Evans said at the Nutshell on Thursday.

“It’s for text-based theatre, so we are going to make that work.”

Mr Neilson, the billionaire founder of funds manager Platinum Asset Management, said he supported Bell Shakespeare because of its performances and education and outreach programs.

“The great thing about Bell Shakespeare is their helping the less privileged, and getting teachers to enliven the way they convey the real substance of Shakespeare,” he said.

The Neilson Foundation, whose grants committee comprises Mr Neilson and daughters Paris and Beau, has given almost $20m across several different companies for upgrades at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Mr Neilson said.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra is about to move into its new premises at Pier 2/3, which includes a 300-seat recital venue called The Neilson, for which the Neilson Foundation gave $5m.

The Nutshell, and Bell Shakespeare’s studio and offices at Pier 2/3, comprise the first ­purpose-built home for the company John Bell founded as Australia’s national Shakespeare company in 1990.

The “nutshell” reference is from Hamlet: “O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.”

Evans plans to stage at least one Shakespeare play a year in the Nutshell; at other times it will be used for rehearsals, education programs and events. It will be inaugurated with a performance, In a Nutshell, featuring famous speeches and scenes from Shakespeare, from April 22-24.

“I’d argue we’ve got the best rehearsal room in the world,” Evans said. “There’s a view, natural light, huge windows. It’s going to be a bit of a problem – how much work are we going to get done? – but it’s very beautiful.”