Mother Courage - Shakespeare’s Globe - Raw Material Review

A review by Luke Brilley

Foreword:

This was my first ever time going to Shakespeare’s Globe, and honestly, the venue itself was already a huge part of the experience for me. I’d seen pictures of it before but actually being there felt completely different. There was something quite heavy about the space, in a good way. You can feel the history of it. It really was a sight to behold.

The atmosphere was also nothing like walking into a traditional West End theatre. The audience felt more present somehow. More involved. There was just a different kind of energy in the crowd, and I found myself really enjoying that before the play had even started. The benches, however, were another story. My back was definitely hurting by the end. But I tried to just embrace it because, at the end of the day, I was at Shakespeare’s Globe. You have to throw yourself into the full experience.

Michelle Terry as Mother Courage
Photography : Marc Brenner

I had never seen Mother Courage before and didn’t really know the story, so I went in completely blind. I actually think that made the experience better because I had no idea what was coming. I wasn’t waiting for certain scenes or comparing it to another version. I was just following the story as it happened.

The play follows Mother Courage, who travels through the war with her children, selling supplies to soldiers from her wagon. She survives because of the war, but that same war slowly takes everything away from her. I’m usually more of a musical person. Serious plays aren’t normally the first thing I would choose to go and see, even though I do enjoy them. So I wasn’t completely sure how I would feel going into it. But I was pulled in almost immediately.

The wagon being dragged across the stage, the movement of the cast and the way the story just started with this real sense of energy all worked so well. It felt like the show started with a bang. I didn’t have to wait around for it to become interesting.

What I found really powerful was the way the production dealt with war, violence, sexual abuse, poverty and survival. It didn’t shy away from those things, but it also never felt like it was being shocking just for the sake of it. The harder moments were allowed to be uncomfortable. They were hard-hitting, but they felt truthful.

There was also something really interesting about Mother Courage herself. Throughout the whole show, I kept waiting for her to completely break.

There was this constant feeling of a storm coming. Not exactly the calm before the storm, because nothing in the play is particularly calm, but you could feel all her grief building up underneath the surface. She never really gets the emotional release that you feel like she needs. She doesn’t get to stop. She just keeps going. And I think that made the ending hit even harder.

Rachelle Diedericks as Katterina, Michelle Terry as Mother Courage, Vinnie Heaven as Eilif and Rawaed Asde as Swiss Cheese

Photography: Marc Brenner

Speaking of, Michelle Terry was absolutely sensational. For me, she completely drove the show. Whenever she came onstage, my attention immediately went to her. It genuinely didn’t feel like I was watching someone acting. It felt like Mother Courage was a real person standing there in front of me. She felt completely fleshed out. Strong, funny, rough around the edges, frustrating, loving and completely exhausted.

There were moments where her comedy reminded me of a Catherine Tate character. She had that really sharp, quick delivery that could make you laugh immediately. But then, when things became more serious, she could shift into those emotions without it ever feeling forced. You could see the pain coming through the cracks, even when Mother Courage was trying to keep herself together. That was what I loved about the performance. She was funny, but the comedy never took away from the tragedy. It almost made the sad moments worse because you had already seen so much of her personality and humanity.

She was just completely captivating. What a leading woman.

The whole production fit the Globe really well. The cast made great use of the stage, and the wagon and smaller pieces of set helped create the whole world without needing massive scene changes. Because of the way the Globe is set up, the audience feels close to the action. You can see other audience members, the actors are right there, and it doesn’t feel like the story is happening behind a wall. That made everything feel more immediate.

The ensemble also kept the world moving constantly. There was always something happening, but it never felt too busy or distracting. The staging felt simple but really effective.

By the end, I was genuinely emotional. It really hit me in the feels. I also left feeling really inspired as a creative person. From a writing point of view, it made me think about the type of characters I would like to create.

Full Mother Courage Company

Photography: Marc Brenner

Mother Courage isn’t completely good or bad. She is messy and complicated. Sometimes you agree with her and sometimes you don’t. But she always feels human. From an acting point of view, I was also really inspired by Michelle Terry and the whole cast. There was such a strong commitment to the characters and the world of the play.

It got sparks flying in my brain about projects I might want to create one day, characters I might want to write and the kind of stories I want to tell. I think that is one of the best things theatre can do. You leave feeling entertained, emotional and also wanting to go and make something yourself.

Overall, Mother Courage was a brilliant first experience of Shakespeare’s Globe. It was funny, devastating, gripping and performed incredibly well. Even with the back pain from the wooden bench, I found myself trying to enjoy every second of it. I would absolutely recommend it, especially to someone who, like me, might not normally choose a serious play but is open to being surprised.

Mother Courage |by Bertolt Brecht
The show ran at Shakespeare’s Globe as part of their 2026 summer season with tickets starting at £5.

A special thank you to Shakespeare’s Globe for inviting Raw Material reviewers along to see this beautiful show and for supporting us in all areas of accessibility.