A ddressing an audience at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, Adjoa Andoh acknowledged that some of her work might look “Black or colour-centric” but that is only because of the silos the world forces us into. She could just as easily be Leeds United football club-centric, she added.

“I am missing two crucial matches to be here with you this week,” the 63-year-old exclaimed, prompting laughter in the theatre. “I have tickets!”

Any football fan will empathise. Andoh, a Shakespearean actor and director and star of the Netflix series Bridgerton, had made the noble sacrifice of missing an FA Cup semi-final to be take part in a new director’s residency programme at the Folger, a Shakespearean shrine – with scenes from the plays carved in marble – on Capitol Hill since 1932.

Her week’s itinerary included consulting the Folger’s collection, public programmes such as last Sunday’s lecture (which effortlessly wove together the Gospel of Luke, the transatlantic slave trade, punk rock and the Artemis II…