Over the course of Sunday 18th and Monday 19th of July, I was privileged enough to visit Shakespeare’s Globe alongside Ellyn Kendall (Year 13). We were both finalists of Poetry by Heart- a nationwide poetry recitation competition. As a precursor to the morning’s events, we were invited to watch the Globe’s production of As You Like It on Sunday night. Despite the heat, the Globe was a breathtaking space and the play performed was hilarious in parts and enjoyable all the way through.
After a long night’s sleep at our accommodation and a hefty breakfast, we were invited back to the Globe to hear speeches from many world-renowned poets – including Simon Armitage (poet laureate) and Michael Rosen! I was also given a tour of the Globe and a talk about its history, before the most exciting moment. Performing a poem on the Globe stage to an audience of hundreds, I barely heard myself over the sound of blood rushing to my head! Nevertheless, despite the nerves, it was a once-in-a-lifetime, exhilarating experience, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Thank you to everyone who made this happen – especially to the English Department and Mrs. Millman-Jones. It truly was amazing, and I hope that there will be more opportunities like this.
Thea Hodges, 9NMD
