From 18th Century Shakespearian pretenders to the new establishment, if you find yourself looking for an artistic respite from sports overload at the Olympic Games, there will be few more exciting
places to be in 2012 than Shakespeare’s Globe. In the spirit of Olympic internationalism, the Globe will be inviting 38 different companies from around the world to perform the complete plays
of Shakespeare in their own languages (it seems they don’t count Double Falsehood either). For all that I’ve complained about the odd misstep, the Globe, with its inspirational research department,
remains one of the greatest sources of theatrical energy in Europe. This latest project will only affirm that position. As director Dominic Dromgoole puts it, ‘It has long been recognised
that Shakespeare, as well as a great playwright, has become an international language.’ So, even if you’re booking now to escape London during the philistine scrum of the Games,
don’t arrange to leave until the theatre season finishes in June.
There’s still no word, though, on whether the best sports play in London for years will make a return for the Games.
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