A Little Midsummer Magic at Shakespeare's Globe

Dinner beneath Shakespeare’s Globe with the British Guild of Travel Writers? Oh, go on then. Some invitations you say yes to before you’ve even checked the diary.

It was a November evening on London’s Bankside, but down in the Underglobe I felt as though I’d rolled straight into the woods in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There was a tree in the middle of the room, and a soft haze gave the whole place a misty, woodland feel. The tables were dressed with foliage and huge candlesticks wrapped in trailing ivy. I loved that the ivy had been left to tumble down, as though it had grown there while nobody was looking.

Then the room filled with chatter as everyone settled in for dinner. I half expected Puck to appear from behind the tree and pull up a chair. In a room full of travel writers, I daresay he’d have had a few stories to tell.

A look behind the scenes at Shakespeare's Globe

I’d visited Shakespeare’s Globe earlier for a backstage tour, which made it all the lovelier to come back for the gala. I’m always curious about what goes on behind the scenes. At the theatre, you see the finished performance. A tour gives you a chance to think about all the people and decisions that go into making that moment happen.

The Globe’s open-air theatre has a character all of its own. There’s that familiar wooden ‘O’, the galleries wrapped around the Yard and, of course, the sky above. It’s fun to imagine what it must have been like to be part of a Bankside audience more than 400 years ago, squeezed in among the crowd, with the actors close enough to see the expressions on their faces.

The Globe offers family tours and themed visits, including some for anyone who likes their history with a grisly edge. All its guided tours include entry to the exhibition, so there’s time to find out more about the theatre and its history. I rather like a visit where you can come away with a good story to tell over lunch.

A November night with a touch of midsummer magic

The British Guild of Travel Writers held its annual gala on 2 November, the evening before World Travel Market. We started with a sparkling reception at six, sat down for dinner and the awards at seven, and the bar opened for more catching up at eleven. When you put that many travel writers in one room, it seems sensible to allow a little extra time for conversation.

The theme was Around the Globe at the Underglobe, and projections swept around the room, carrying us from one destination to another while we stayed quite happily where we were. Explore Charleston and Discover South Carolina were the presenting partners, with Visit San Antonio and Explore Louisiana partnering on the dinner courses. A big thank you to them, the award partners and everyone at the Guild who helped put the evening together.

As a wheelchair user, I know how much the practical side of an evening can affect how much I enjoy it. Getting in, moving around and joining conversations all matter, especially at a reception where people naturally drift from one group to another. The accessibility at the gala was excellent. I could relax, enjoy the company and get on with the very important business of having a lovely evening.

A proud moment for Access Adventure

I was chuffed to bits that Access Adventure had been shortlisted for Travel Narrative Book of the Year. Congratulations to Daniel Stables, a very worthy winner with Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity. A book about celebrations winning on a night like that felt rather fitting.

Being on that shortlist meant a great deal to me. I started writing Access Adventure because I knew what getting outdoors had done for me after Andy died. I wanted to share the stories of other people who had found something they needed in nature, alongside practical details about places wheelchair users could go and explore for themselves.

There are 30 people’s stories and 30 walks in the book, and I thought about the people who’d trusted me with those stories. They talked openly about some difficult times and about the pleasure they’d found in being outdoors again. It was lovely to have their stories celebrated in a room full of people who care about how we write about travel.

A few access details for your own visit

If you’re planning a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe, its free Access Scheme helps Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent visitors find suitable seating and access ticket rates where available. The venue has lifts, wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets, and assistance dogs are welcome. If you’re booking a tour, it’s worth asking about the route for the one you’ve chosen, particularly if there’s an area you’re keen to see.

The Globe also publishes dates for relaxed, captioned, audio-described and British Sign Language performances. Some audio-described performances include a touch tour before the show. I love the idea of getting to explore a costume or a prop up close before it becomes part of the story on stage.

I’m glad I got to see two sides of the Globe. The tour gave me time to look around and imagine the old Bankside crowds. The gala gave me a chance to catch up with friends and cheer on fellow writers beneath the very same theatre. I’d happily go back for a performance. Although after a November evening that felt like midsummer, I think Shakespeare has already had a bit of fun with me.