This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jul/24/actor-michelle-terry-to-replace-emma-rice-at-shakespeares-globe
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Actor Michelle Terry to replace Emma Rice at Shakespeare's Globe | Actor Michelle Terry to replace Emma Rice at Shakespeare's Globe |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| One year after impressing audiences and critics as Henry V, the actor Michelle Terry is preparing for a far trickier role: restoring what is, in some eyes, the tarnished name of Shakespeare’s Globe. The theatre, which over the past year has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons, announced on Monday that Terry is to take over as artistic director from Emma Rice, who was controversially ousted from the job after only two seasons in charge. | One year after impressing audiences and critics as Henry V, the actor Michelle Terry is preparing for a far trickier role: restoring what is, in some eyes, the tarnished name of Shakespeare’s Globe. The theatre, which over the past year has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons, announced on Monday that Terry is to take over as artistic director from Emma Rice, who was controversially ousted from the job after only two seasons in charge. |
| Terry is a respected stage actor who has performed at the Globe on a number of occasions, playing characters such as Rosalind in As You Like It and both Titania and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With the Royal Shakespeare Company, she appeared most recently in the pairing at Stratford of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing. | Terry is a respected stage actor who has performed at the Globe on a number of occasions, playing characters such as Rosalind in As You Like It and both Titania and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With the Royal Shakespeare Company, she appeared most recently in the pairing at Stratford of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing. |
| Her performance as Henry V at the Open Air theatre in Regent’s Park, London, was described as “riveting” and “astonishing” by the Guardian’s Michael Billington. The Observer’s Susannah Clapp said it “proves she can do anything.” But directing a stage play, let alone running a theatre company, remain uncharted territory for the Rada-trained actor. | Her performance as Henry V at the Open Air theatre in Regent’s Park, London, was described as “riveting” and “astonishing” by the Guardian’s Michael Billington. The Observer’s Susannah Clapp said it “proves she can do anything.” But directing a stage play, let alone running a theatre company, remain uncharted territory for the Rada-trained actor. |
| Terry said the work of Shakespeare for her was “timeless, mythic, mysterious, vital, profoundly human and unapologetically theatrical”. | Terry said the work of Shakespeare for her was “timeless, mythic, mysterious, vital, profoundly human and unapologetically theatrical”. |
| She added: “I am so proud and excited that I will be in the privileged position where I can offer artists the opportunity to come together to reclaim and rediscover not only Shakespeare but the work of his contemporaries, alongside new work from our current writers. | She added: “I am so proud and excited that I will be in the privileged position where I can offer artists the opportunity to come together to reclaim and rediscover not only Shakespeare but the work of his contemporaries, alongside new work from our current writers. |
| “For us to then share those stories with an audience that demands an unparalleled honesty, clarity and bravery is all a dream come true.” | “For us to then share those stories with an audience that demands an unparalleled honesty, clarity and bravery is all a dream come true.” |
| Terry undoubtedly faces a stiff learning curve, but it is one that is surmountable, according to the director Ian Rickson, who ran the Royal Court for eight years. | Terry undoubtedly faces a stiff learning curve, but it is one that is surmountable, according to the director Ian Rickson, who ran the Royal Court for eight years. |
| He called it an exciting appointment. “I think it is great. She is a really intelligent, passionate, exciting artist and I think more actors should run theatres. I don’t see any impediment ... they are creative creatures. This is a real breath of fresh air.” | He called it an exciting appointment. “I think it is great. She is a really intelligent, passionate, exciting artist and I think more actors should run theatres. I don’t see any impediment ... they are creative creatures. This is a real breath of fresh air.” |
| Terry follows the example of actor Mark Rylance, who was the Globe’s founding artistic director between 1995 and 2005. | Terry follows the example of actor Mark Rylance, who was the Globe’s founding artistic director between 1995 and 2005. |
| “Directors are a relatively new invention,” said Rickson. “All sorts of artists across the hierarchy of a theatre have a kind of authority and leadership potential, and if she wants to step up and do that then it is really refreshing.” | “Directors are a relatively new invention,” said Rickson. “All sorts of artists across the hierarchy of a theatre have a kind of authority and leadership potential, and if she wants to step up and do that then it is really refreshing.” |
| But Terry is also taking the helm of a company that has faced much criticism in recent months, in a chapter that has proved to be one of the saddest and most difficult in its 20-year history. | But Terry is also taking the helm of a company that has faced much criticism in recent months, in a chapter that has proved to be one of the saddest and most difficult in its 20-year history. |
| In April, Rice wrote at length about what she deemed a lack of respect from the board, and about her exclusion “from the rooms where decisions are made”. | In April, Rice wrote at length about what she deemed a lack of respect from the board, and about her exclusion “from the rooms where decisions are made”. |
| The official reason for her departure was that the Globe wanted a return to “shared light” productions, without modern sound and light rigging. But some observers saw it as a battle between the traditional and the experimental, with the latter – and Rice – coming out losers. | The official reason for her departure was that the Globe wanted a return to “shared light” productions, without modern sound and light rigging. But some observers saw it as a battle between the traditional and the experimental, with the latter – and Rice – coming out losers. |
| The theatre critic Mark Shenton, associate editor of The Stage, said anyone following Rice “would be aware of the tensions they would inherit in the clash of traditionalists v innovators”. | The theatre critic Mark Shenton, associate editor of The Stage, said anyone following Rice “would be aware of the tensions they would inherit in the clash of traditionalists v innovators”. |
| He said he did not expect Terry to be a safe, traditional pair of hands. “Terry is already an innovator as an actor … so I doubt she’ll roll over and play safe now that she’s been appointed to run the Globe.” | He said he did not expect Terry to be a safe, traditional pair of hands. “Terry is already an innovator as an actor … so I doubt she’ll roll over and play safe now that she’s been appointed to run the Globe.” |
| Shenton said Terry was “an inspired choice, since she’s appeared regularly on its stage and, like Mark Rylance, can lead from the front, literally, as an actor-manager. She’s a multi-faceted talent who is also known as a writer. I can’t wait to see what she does.” | Shenton said Terry was “an inspired choice, since she’s appeared regularly on its stage and, like Mark Rylance, can lead from the front, literally, as an actor-manager. She’s a multi-faceted talent who is also known as a writer. I can’t wait to see what she does.” |
| The appointment was also welcomed by the RSC. Artistic director Gregory Doran said: “We are thrilled to hear that RSC associate artist Michelle Terry has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Globe. We wish her well in her new role.” | The appointment was also welcomed by the RSC. Artistic director Gregory Doran said: “We are thrilled to hear that RSC associate artist Michelle Terry has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Globe. We wish her well in her new role.” |
| Neil Constable, the Globe’s chief executive, said he was delighted to announce the appointment. “Audiences have loved her sparkling and intelligent performances on our stage over the years. Now they will have the opportunity to see her fresh artistic vision come to life as she moves into a new phase of her impressive career.” | Neil Constable, the Globe’s chief executive, said he was delighted to announce the appointment. “Audiences have loved her sparkling and intelligent performances on our stage over the years. Now they will have the opportunity to see her fresh artistic vision come to life as she moves into a new phase of her impressive career.” |
| Terry is renowned as a stage actor, winning an Olivier award in 2011 for her role in the Royal Court production of Nina Raine’s Tribes. On television she is best known for the Sky1 sitcom The Cafe, set in Weston-super-Mare, which she co-wrote and starred in with Ralf Little. | Terry is renowned as a stage actor, winning an Olivier award in 2011 for her role in the Royal Court production of Nina Raine’s Tribes. On television she is best known for the Sky1 sitcom The Cafe, set in Weston-super-Mare, which she co-wrote and starred in with Ralf Little. |
| Terry has not directed on stage, but she directed three short films, Richard III, King John and As You Like It, for the Globe project The Complete Walk, which marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. She also co-created My Mark, the Donmar Warehouse’s 10-year project to chart the political growth of the next voting generation. | Terry has not directed on stage, but she directed three short films, Richard III, King John and As You Like It, for the Globe project The Complete Walk, which marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. She also co-created My Mark, the Donmar Warehouse’s 10-year project to chart the political growth of the next voting generation. |
| The Globe said Terry would become artistic director designate in October and take over fully when Rice leaves in April 2018. | The Globe said Terry would become artistic director designate in October and take over fully when Rice leaves in April 2018. |
| Rice, meanwhile, has set up a new theatre company, Wise Children, which has secured regular Arts Council England funding and will be a resident company at London’s Old Vic theatre. | Rice, meanwhile, has set up a new theatre company, Wise Children, which has secured regular Arts Council England funding and will be a resident company at London’s Old Vic theatre. |
| Michelle Terry | Michelle Terry |
| Shakespeare's Globe | Shakespeare's Globe |
| Emma Rice | Emma Rice |
| Theatre | Theatre |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |