ABSTRACT
In the early years of this century, the remarkable Lilian Baylis established the “Old Vic” theatre in London as the centre of innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays and as the only theatre, at that time, where the entire Shakespeare canon was presented in rotation. Lilian Baylis had no particular experience of Shakespeare, but an unerring sense of theatre and its relevance to life and to the experiences of ordinary people. Almost every great English actor of the first three-quarters of this century owed something to the “Old Vic” and on one occasion, Lilian Baylis sent for the talented Sybil Thorndike to suggest that she might consider playing the part of Lady Macbeth. Sybil Thorndike, conscious of the great traditions of Lady Macbeths, showed some hesitation, but the forthright Miss Baylis had no time for such attitudes: “I don’t know what all the fuss is about with these ‘great parts’,” she said, “they’re all very easy. You’ve only got to be people. You know them all, well just BE them.I think Lady Macbeth is a very easy part for you. She loved her husband and wanted him to get to the top of the tree; I expect you feel that way too!”
