An interview with Erica Westwood by Bia Costa
On a morning Friday in April, I had a chance to hear Erica Westwood speak on call for twenty-five minutes about what has been a great story, where passion for theatre is now being celebrated through volunteering work at the Globe Theatre in Southwark.
Who is Erica and why you should know her?
Erica calls herself ‘post-war baby’ also referred to as Baby Bloomer but for the case, we settle for her own words ‘post-war baby’. Given the context, in her childhood, none of her family was enthusiastically absorbing theatre. However, her passion for it was stimulated mainly through, as she describes ‘my brilliant English teacher, Mrs Anson’.
I always find it fascinating the memories we keep from our childhood and the impact they have on us throughout our lives. And so it was, when Mrs Anson took her class to Stratford upon Avon to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cymbeline, Erica’s little world changed there.
“I’m quite impressed with myself that I’m in my old age, I’m sort of helping children doing what was literally enforced on me actually. I mean we didn’t have a choice we had to go up to Stratford Avon’
Erica had learned, in class, some of William Shakespeare’s plays, but it was the momentum of being present, for the first time, in the theatre hall while watching the play come to life that opened her world to culture. All of that was capsulated in a single shot and that young girl grew up with a passion for Shakespeare, every time Erica would listen to the echoes of the actor’s voices and hear the lines she so much remembered.
Active listening is a skill but teaching and generosity come from the heart and so, through the different roles in her life as a daughter, student, woman, professional, wife and mother, Erica never escaped being her true self and so, her cultural taste passed on to the next generation. First, through her children and nowadays, with the youth at the Globe Theatre.
As we were talking, Erica shared that she has always been interested in history and the Globe Theatre’s affiliation as a charity was the decisive factor in joining her passion for Shakespeare with volunteering. Early on in her life, Erica knew one day she would be volunteering and most likely in a museum or charity in London.
Now, in her retirement, Erica is diving again into the stimulation of curiosity and opportunity but, this time, given to young people to be introduced to Shakespeare’s archaic but significant words, just like she once did many years ago. Erica spends time stewarding at the Globe’s Educational Activities programme, which besides putting on activities for young children also includes a production on ‘playing Shakespeare’ where a big sum of free tickets are given to young pupils at non–selective state secondary schools in London and Birmingham*
‘It’s absolutely evil with all the schoolchildren in there and it is so noisy, but its such fun actually, it is fun’
For this interview, Erica’s last words were gratitude for being accepted as a volunteer at the Globe Theatre, which she still giggles thinking she would not be selected. Also, one thing to remember is how welcoming everyone is to this theatre, including wheelchair and hard-hearing people. Erica takes pride in the diversity of guests, patrons, and staff of the Globe Theatre and if you are still wondering what is the best part of volunteering at the Globe? Stepping on that famous stage!
*under a sponsorship by Deutche Bank
There are many ways and formats of volunteering, please find more information on the Community Southwark website. Remember to celebrate what gives you joy, and joy will find you, even in your retirement!
Thank you to Erica and the Shakespeare’s Globe for sharing her story. You can find out more about volunteering with the Globe on their website.
