“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” for an all-female Shakespeare company tackling As You Like It and Macbeth in Camden.
The Whole Pack Theatre Company, established after a group of touring actresses found common ground in craving the opportunity to play traditionally male roles, is bringing its upcoming plays to The Libra Theatre Café.
The performances form part of a tour which aims to bring Shakespeare to new audiences in a fresh and innovative way.
Whole Pack co-founder, perfomer and director Jessamy James said: “While there are some wonderful female roles in Shakespeare, it’s quite limited.
“There are so many incredible female actor’s out there who are just not getting the opportunities that men are because there just aren’t as many roles available.”
Since their founding in 2024, the company have produced versions of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while their production of Richard II received an Off West End Award – affectionately called an ‘Offie’ – after featuring as part of the 2025 Camden Fringe Festival.
Whole Pack co-founder, performer and movement director Megan Carter said: “Women contain multitudes and we deserve to see every aspect an factor of ourselves represented on stage.”
As well as an all-female multi-rolling cast and production team, the music featured in The Whole Pack’s productions is female-led as well.
Co-founder, performer and musical director Meghan Louise Taylor rearranges old English Folk songs into haunting harmonies to engage the audience.
The group’s ethos is built around advocating for more women in theatre and bringing Shakespeare to modern audiences who may shy away from traditional performances.
Carter said: “[It’s] Approaching it from a human standpoint rather than a gender one.”
Their productions are not attached to a particular historical period either, to create a timelessness which is more welcoming for the public.
Taylor said: “Everything we do is to make sure that Shakespeare’s works can be accessed by everybody, both actors and audiences alike.”
Whole Pack co-founder, stage manager and designer Mary Anne Coleman added: “Children that have come to see some of our shows have realised that actually this makes sense now.”
The company have toured to other venues outside of London with the aim to bring Shakespeare to communities which may not typical see live classical theatre.
They hope to perform in America as well, where there is a variety of Shakespeare festivals, independent theatre, and opportunities to access.
So far the company has produced shows frugally from their own resources, along with a Kickstarter and money from patrons, but they aim to apply for extremely competitive funding in the future for their travel visas and productions in the UK.
James hopes their upcoming summer tour contains the “particular magic you get when women come together to create”, too – something she aimed to harness when establishing the company.
As You Like It is at the Libra Theatre Café 27-28 June and Macbeth is at the same venue 8-9 September.
Feature image: Natalie Rodgers
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