About The Willow Globe
The Willow Globe (Y Glôb Byw) is a scaled down, living version of the Globe in London, being a third of its size in diameter. The willow has been carefully woven into an organic and spiritual theatre, starkly sculptural in spring, which is almost completely absorbed by its lush, green surroundings in summer months.
This secret, magical and intimate space, with a rough thrust stage, is totally unique - we believe it is one of the largest willow constructions in the country and probably the only one in use as a theatre in the world. Viola’s determination to ‘make me a willow cabin at your gate’ has a whole new resonance.
We host events from April - September, offering syllabus Shakespeare for schools through workshops, community productions and professional tours. It is a venue for an eclectic mix of music, Shakespeare, and other arts happenings. We have the option of wet weather cover in a big top circus tent should it rain. Doors open an hour before the performance. Although this was a working farm so the ground can be uneven, it has been levelled where possible and we are accessible for wheelchairs.
Facilities include a licensed onsite pub, serving drinks before, during and after the show; a tea & cake stall; onsite car parking; a disabled access toilet.
“……Britain’s most enchanting outdoor drama experience”
By Susanna Best - Artistic Director, Shakespeare Link
The story of the how the Willow Globe came to be where it is, and how it was planted
Now the Willow Globe is here it's hard to imagine the field it was planted in, in April 2006, without it. The theatre nestles in a corner of a field behind our house, Penlanole; when we had the idea to plant a theatre we took advice as to the most welcoming habitat on the farm for such a willow structure.
The willow would like a bit of shelter, we were told, and damp ground – easy to find with Rhayader's high rainfall making it statistically one of the wettest areas in the British Isles – and this field fell in a gentle slope from West to East towards a ditching brook, so it met these requirements, and also our own considerations that for an open air theatre it would be helpful if there could be a natural rake to the auditorium and the setting sun could light the stage of an evening. All good. But before going further, why plant?
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Volunteers are at the heart of everything at Shakespeare Link.
In exchange for your hard work you will become part of a friendly and supportive team, build skills, make friends and help maintain and development all of our Charities work for the benefit of all who engage with us.
