On episode 18 of the Music Addict Podcast, we’re excited to welcome Angus Vail, a New Zealand-born artist with a diverse background. After spending over 20 years touring and working with the legendary rock band Kiss, Angus is now channeling his creative energy into a completely different project.
He’s on a mission to build a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. But made entirely out of shipping containers. His goal isn’t just to recreate the iconic structure, but to bring back the lively, chaotic spirit of Shakespeare’s original performances. Which were more like raucous, beer-fueled gatherings than the refined theater experience we often see today.
Despite living in New York for more than two decades, Angus still embodies that Kiwi ingenuity. He plans to use discarded shipping containers, scaffolding, and affordable materials to construct these theatres. He explains that Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed in a setting much closer to a sports game. Packed with enthusiastic audiences, beer in hand, trying to get closer to the stage. “Shakespeare in Shakespeare’s day was more like going to a rugby match,” he says. “It wasn’t the high-brow affair it’s often made out to be.”
His vision is ambitious—he hopes to build not just one Globe. But several that can be easily assembled and disassembled anywhere around the world. Imagine a Globe Theatre on the banks of the Hudson River or even a Wellington Globe becoming a reality someday.
