Theatre of dreams

Photo: Manuel Harlan

DAZZLING PERFORMANCE: The actors rehearse at the Globe. Picture courtesy of Manuel Harlan

OLDHAM actor Chris Lane has landed a prestigious role at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

The budding thespian will perform a scene from John Webster’s “The White Devil” at the fifth annual Sam Wan-amaker Festival on Sunday, March 21.

Chris (22), a third-year student at East 15 Acting School in London, will appear in front of an audience of casting agents, artistic directors, friends, family and the general public, alongside other students from 22 of the UK’s leading drama schools.

He said: “I am over the moon to be involved with the Sam Wanamaker Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for drama school graduates to showcase what we can do.

“It’s also an exciting way to meet other graduates from all the other schools who will possibly be our colleagues one day.

“I was chosen to represent East 15 Acting School at the Festival after auditioning and I am delighted to be playing the part of Brachiano from “The White Devil” as I love history and have always dreamed of performing at the Globe.

“Let’s hope the spirit of Shakespeare will be with us all on the day.”

The Festival, which starts on Friday, March 19, will include 22 pairs of students performing a mix of comic, tragic, historical and pastoral duologues and will end in time-honoured Globe fashion with the actors performing a specially choreographed jig.

Chris, who started his career under the tuition of Oldham actress Judith Barker, will also take part in a weekend of classes, lectures and workshops at the Globe exploring language, movement and voice with the theatre’s practitioners.

The Festival culminates in the public performance of duologues from plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

The Sam Wanamaker Festival is inspired by the theatre’s founder who worked tirelessly for the last 23 years of his life to rebuild Shakespeare’s Globe on the banks of the River Thames in London.