Bell Shakespeare’s founder will hand over the reins to Peter Evans in 2015.

The great Australian actor and director John Bell has announced that he will step down as Co-Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare, the company he founded 25 years ago. In a beautifully written statement, Bell declared his intention to quit when he reaches the age of 75 and hand over the reins of the company to Peter Evans at the end of 2015.

“I have had this strategy in mind for some time,” said Bell. “After five years of working alongside me and the culmination of his long experience with the Company, I am confident Peter is more than ready to take on the leadership of Bell Shakespeare”.

Applauding the new energy and renewed focus that Evans will bring, Bell went on to praise the achievements of the Company over the past 25 years. His most emotional words were reserved for his long-term relationship with the man with whose work he has been most closely associated over his long career. “I shall miss walking side-by-side with the Bard on a daily basis,” he writes. “My life has been immeasurably enriched by maintaining a daily conversation with one of...