Austin Cove: Ebony is one of three to win a 2018 John Bell Scholarship to Bell Shakespeare

AUSTIN Cove Baptist College student Ebony Eastman is one of three recipients of the 2018 John Bell Scholarship.

The scholarship offers three talented young actors – the other two are from Darwin and Hamilton, NSW – the chance to learn from some of Australia’s most respected actors, directors and educators.

They were selected by a panel including Bell Shakespeare’s artistic director Peter Evans and founding artistic director John Bell.

The scholarship embeds the young actors in Bell Shakespeare’s Sydney headquarters for a week long program in January where they undertake acting master classes and backstage tours, watch live performances and observe rehearsals of the company’s first production of the year, The Miser, starring John Bell.

The week culminates with the recipients staging a performance of the Shakespeare monologue for the cast of The Miser before receiving feedback and career advice.

Evans said the program was an important part of the company’s commitment to nurturing new talent and sharing Shakespeare as widely as possible.

This year, Bell Shakespeare educators and actors auditioned 120 students around the country, working with each student on their Shakespeare monologue.

Evans said that with so much talent around the country, it was difficult to select just three recipients.

“This is a significant opportunity and one that can help set the stage for a career in the industry,’’ he said.