Having spent 2025 cementing his company, Mockingbird Theatre, into the Belconnen Arts Centre as its resident theatre company with an attention-grabbing program of productions which have won himself and his company numerous awards during the year, Chris Baldock has chosen Shakespeare in Love for his first production for 2026.
The play is a witty adaptation by Lee Hall of the original screenplay written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman for the Academy Award winning film of the same name.
The plot revolves around an imagining of a fictional love affair between playwright, William Shakespeare, and a noblewoman, Viola de Lesseps, during a period when Shakespeare supposedly suffered writer’s block during the writing of Romeo and Juliet.
The play is set in 1593, and involves characters based on historical figures, among them Christopher Marlowe, Lord Wessex, Richard Burbage, Lord Edmund Tilney and Queen Elizabeth 1. The plot also incorporates many of the characters, lines and plot devices that turn up in Shakespeare’s plays.
Given the size of the Studio Theatre at the Belconnen Arts Centre, the idea of presenting such a sprawling play in this confined environment was no doubt an intriguing challenge for Baldock to set himself.
So, drawing on the abilities of no fewer than 23 actors of wildly varying abilities, a mixture of experienced senior actors and students from his acting classes, he has applied his celebrated directorial skills and ingenuity to producing a sometimes challenging, but very watchable entertainment.
Heading the cast as Will Shakespeare and the object of his affections, Viola de Lesseps, Tom Cullen and Asha Forno are a delightful pairing, easily believable as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, whose story, their own appears to duplicate.
James Phillips is also well cast as Shakespeare’s friend and confidant, Kit Marlowe, who, if you believe this play, deserves more recognition for his contribution to Romeo and Juliet, than previously recognised.
Strong performances from Sian Harrington (Nurse), Bruce Hardie (Lord Wessex), Richard Manning (Richard Burbage), Anto Hermida (Henslowe), Sachin Nayak (Lord Edmund Tilney) and particularly Liz St Clair Long who dominates every scene in which she appears as the imperious Queen Elizabeth 1, all add gravitas to the proceedings.
But despite the enthusiasm of the large cast, the variance in stagecraft among the rest of the cast becomes a distraction to the success of the storytelling.
Baldock’s attractive setting, while appropriate, even evocative, also proved a hindrance to keeping abreast with changes in timelines and locales. Having only two points of access compromised exits and entrances.
Similarly with the costumes. Adhering to the Bridgeton aesthetic of eschewing historical accuracy for appearance, many costumes were quite splendid. But when worn besides others that looked very ‘make do’, exampled by the extraordinarily unconvincing disguise for Forno as Thomas Kent, not only was the effect of opulence dissipated but also, any semblance of a consistent overall vision.
Also, while it is accepted, that in Shakespeare’s day, male actors performed the female characters, it’s hard to imagine bearded actors being cast in these roles.
There is much to be enjoyed with this production; especially its audacity, the exuberance of its cast, and the obvious talent and skill that has been lavished on it by its cast and creatives. However, when compared to the award-winning standard set by Mockingbird Theatre with its 2025 program, the end result rarely rises above that of a good student production.
However, when considering the huge restrictions placed on the concept by the size of the Studio Theatre, perhaps preventing the style, polish and attention to detail usually associated with a Baldock production, given its entertainment potential, perhaps the Belconnen Arts Centre could consider a Main Stage revival of this production to allow it to be enjoyed by the wider audience it deserves.
Shakespeare in Love
Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
Performance: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Season continues to 28 February 2026
Bookings: www.belcoarts.com.au
For more information, visit: www.mockingbirdtheatrics.com for details.
Images: Tom Cullen as William Shakespeare and Asha Forno as Viola de Lesseps – photo by Chris Baldock | The Ensemble of Shakespeare in Love – photo by Chris Baldock | Sachin Nayak as Lord Edmund Tilney and the Ensemble of Shakespeare in Love – photo by Chris Baldock
Image: Bill Stephens OAM