All the world's a stage for Ellen from Formby

A TEENAGER from Formby was among 50 international students to tread the boards of the famous Globe Theatre as part of the Globe Education Summer Schools at London's Shakespeare's Globe. Ellen Wagstaff, 17, was welcomed at London's famous Shakespeare's Globe throughout August to take part in the two week Young Actors Summer School. The students, from the UK, Spain, Mexico, Denmark, France, USA and as far as China experienced practical sessions with directors, scholars and masters in the field of drama. They were also given the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform in the world famous Globe Theatre and the newly opened Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Ellen said: “When I first applied to attend the Young Actors Summer School, I expected to learn new skills that would help me to improve my acting and to make new friends. ”These expectations were completely exceeded. I have learned more during this trip than I have in the last few years and will, I’m sure, keep in touch with everybody I've worked with. “I cannot pick a single highlight because I felt that the whole experience was inspirational. ”I will really miss working with Globe Education and all the wonderful people I met there and will always remember this as a special experience.“ Patrick Spottiswoode, Director Globe Education, comments: ”A 19th century scholar wrote “one touch of Shakespeare makes the whole world kin”. “This month, students from around the world gathered to explore Shakespeare’s plays and playhouses at Shakespeare’s Globe. ”Some are preparing to study Shakespeare at university, others are preparing for drama school. “There’s no better preparation for either than working on the boards of the stages at the Globe.” Shakespeare’s Globe is the acknowledged international home for the study of Shakespeare in performance. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse was opened in January 2013 on the same site, an archetype of the indoor Jacobean playhouses for which Shakespeare and his contemporaries also wrote.