Edie's Story

Rob has been one of the most influential people I’ve met in terms of encouraging my passion for acting. With his crazy but wonderful ideas and his devotion to creating performances which entice an audience, he has completely changed the way I view theatre. Thanks to him, I now understand that acting is about feeding off the energy of other actors and ‘lifting’ a scene up (as he often says). I have learnt the true importance of working in a supportive company and creating a strong connection with other actors. I’ve picked up so much from actors in the Wild Will company simply by watching them rehearse scenes and noticing their process. I love the sense of community that has been created through spending focused time with this group; everyone with the shared goal of bringing a story to life. 

 Through working with Rob and the Wild Will company, I have fallen deeply in love with the beauty of Shakespeare’s language. This is thanks to the stunning gardens we perform the plays in, the live music Rob often incorporates, as well as the time he spends editing the scripts to be more concise and snappy. I have seen how Shakespeare can be accessed by a contemporary audience and have come to appreciate the poetic nature of Shakespeare’s plays. In rehearsals, Rob advices us to not rush or force ourselves into making solid decisions and often talks about the journey of discovering a character. He has made me feel comfortable trying lots of different things out and playing around when rehearsing scenes.  

When it came to auditioning for drama schools, Rob was completely dedicated to helping me prepare my speeches which made me feel incredibly valued. At the mere mention of auditioning, he encouraged me to have one to one sessions with him. He willingly gave up a lot of his free time, patiently listening to my monologues and offering lots of advice to improve them for my auditions. This enthusiasm for helping me was exactly what I needed and by the time I had my auditions, I felt 100% confident in what I was performing.

When it comes to working on the plays, the whole team at Wild Will are equally as enthusiastic. To name just a couple, Mary and Caroline work incredibly hard to organise the rehearsal schedules and ensure the general smooth running of things. They’re friendly, dedicated and make me feel as though everything is in safe hands with them. The Wild Will Company as a whole is a perfect team. I feel so lucky to have met Rob and am grateful for the opportunity to be directed by him. It really has changed my life.