Acting outside the box

If all the world’s a stage then London’s Shakespeare’s Globe is a stage for the world. Despite a wealth of experience, Abi Coyle, The Globe’s company manager, says that something always draws her back to the theatre – and what better place to be than part of a unique company showcasing the best of Shakespearean talent. By Katie Pattullo

Located on London’s South Bank the historic Shakespeare’s Globe is a masterful reconstruction of the original open air theatre for which Shakespeare wrote some of his greatest plays, even down to the wooden pegs that hold it together.

So what is it about being part of the theatre, and perhaps Shakespeare’s Globe in particular, that instils such passion and loyalty? Abi Coyle, company manager at The Globe, knew she wanted to work in the theatre from an early age. “I remember when I was a kid I saw a show and was really adamant by the time the curtain went down that I wanted to do that. I didn’t want to be an actress, though, I wanted to ‘make’ the show happen.”

Being a company manager can mean different things in different venues, but ultimately you are the project manager from start to finish: you open the show and you close it down. And you can leave your pride at home: aspects of the job could include anything from doing the washing up to creating realistic excrement as part of the stage set – as one of the stage management team had to do recently.

There is something, though, about the camaraderie of being part of a creative process where people are the core component. Coyle adds: “I’ve done film and television but I always come back to theatre. You spend a very intense time with people in theatre and I have some really deep friendships that have developed from the productions I have worked on.”

Seeing a performance in the historic venue of The Globe undoubtedly inspires any budding thespians wanting to indulge their inner acting talents. Perhaps it is the awe of being inside such an historic venue. But there is also the fact that, because of the intimate layout of the architecture itself, the audience becomes an integral part of the performance. “They get brave and behave in a different way,” adds Coyle. Theatregoers to The Globe can now also feel part of more contemporary productions, such as the critically acclaimed work set in the precincts of Camden Town tube, The Frontline. As Coyle says: “It is fascinating for the actors because they are not in a black box, they can see the audience throughout the whole performance and ironically they can actually feel what it was like in Shakespearean times when they were presenting new plays.”

The Globe has an extremely active educational and development programme, catering for students of all ages. Coyle sets the scene: “It’s very frustrating for the educational side of the business because they are there all year round, then during theatre season the space is taken over by actors rehearsing and acting. You can have King Lear rehearsing his death scene upstairs and then directly below kids clapping and making lots of noise in the midst of a workshop.”

The text, sounds and rhythms of Shakespeare’s work are unlikely to come naturally to young, modern-day students so to be introduced to Shakespeare’s poetry and prose by a playful and play-filled approach can be an extremely effective way of sustaining a lifelong enthusiasm.

The Globe has a unique relationship between actor, audience and architecture. It is the way these elements interact, as part of a closely connected team, that makes Shakespeare’s Globe the success story it is. And, as company manager, it is being able to manage these elements – whether it be harnessing the energy of theatrical mavericks or building a creative vision and organising its structure – that brings out the best in this triptych.

And what would William Shakespeare himself think about The Globe in its present form? Coyle is confident: “I think he would adore it, but would probably think there was a bit too much work happening and not enough drinking... And he would be concerned about the flying machines overhead.”