Irma Bohmer came to England in 1958 to learn English. Initially this was for 12 months. Seeing the white cliffs of Dover from the ferry, she felt welcome. After one year and some evening classes, her reading was adequate, but her conversation needed more practice. So she stayed on, married and had two children. Now she knew that this was the country she wanted to live in. She continued her education at London University and felt confident about her English. But she shied away from Shakespeare as this demanded a skill she thought she did not have yet. Then she heard about Sam Wanamaker’s idea to build a Shakespeare Globe Theatre. There was an opportunity to volunteer at this project and she did. This was a good introduction to Shakespeare’s language and his plays. A bonus was an introduction to English history which she had not studied yet. Volunteering at The Globe became a passion which continues to this day.
