Ariel Whitfield Sobel, "Theatre, Performance, and SOE: Setting the Stage"

This talk discusses covert and undercover espionage acts, and explores how Intelligence Agencies have utilised elements from the theatre in their operations. It will also examine actor training methodologies introduced in the 1930s, and how they relate to the training provided by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. In addition, the presentation will consider the role of Peter Folliss, an actor who spent the war training agents at Beaulieu, before returning to the stage (and other performance arenas) upon its conclusion.

Ariel Whitfield Sobel is currently a doctoral researcher at Brunel University London, focussing on the history and genealogies of actor training methodologies within human intelligence practices throughout the 20th century. She has also trained professionally as an actor and actor trainer in both the United States and the UK.

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