Philosophy For Our Times The philosophy of performance | Michelle Terry
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Feb 24, 2026 Michelle Terry, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe and seasoned actor, reflects on acting, storytelling, and the nature of the self. She traces her path to the Globe and explains why live theatre invites unpredictability. Conversations cover the craft-versus-performance distinction, how audiences shape meaning, and why Shakespeare’s texts provoke fresh actor-audience alchemy.
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Acting Is Craft While Performing Is Life
- Michelle distinguishes acting as a craft from performing as a universal social activity where we switch roles daily.
- She argues storytelling in safe framed spaces lets societies discuss nuance when public discourse demands singular positions.
Shakespeare Provokes Multivalent Selves
- Shakespeare's plays allow actors to explore many internal facets because the texts rarely over-prescribe performance.
- Michelle sees the canon as kaleidoscopic, enabling actors to stand in thousands of psychological shoes across gender and power.
Selfhood Is Shaped By Being Witnessed
- Performance and everyday life run on parallel agreements: we accept fictional premises together and negotiate multiple selves.
- Michelle suggests interaction with others and being witnessed is what challenges and shapes the self.