Backpackers Guide to London
The Globe Theatre
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If there is one bard that Britain is truly proud of, it is no other than William Shakespeare. His prolific talent for playwriting and acting has spawned hundreds of poems, sonnets and presentations that has been translated in almost every imaginable language. Because of his significant contributions in the performing arts, it is only fitting that a theatre, or in this case theatres, be named after him. The Globe Theatre pertains to one of the three theatres in London associated with Shakespeare. There is the original Globe Theatre, which was built in 1598 by the play company that Shakespeare belonged to and burned down in 1613; the second Globe Theatre which was rebuilt in 1614 and closed down in 1644; and the modern Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre which was opened in 1997. The original Globe Theatre, built in 1599, was the original playhouse of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (also known as the King’s Men), a group where Shakespeare was a member. It burned down in 1613 because of the flames that hit the thatched roof of the structure during a performance of Henry VIII. It was rebuilt thereafter, now with a tiled roof, and was reopened the following year. Studies show that the original Globe Theatre was a three-storey, open air amphitheatre that was 100-feet wide. It was called the “wooden O”, mainly because of its circular shape. The modern Globe Theatre, which now went by the name Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, was built upon the proposal of Sam Wanamaker, an American actor and director. The theatre stands 200 feet from its original site and was the first thatched roof building approved by the government since the Great Fire of London in 1666. Just like the original theatre, both the stage and the audience area are located outdoors. Plays are regularly conducted here during the summer and it is the venue for educational workshops and tours over the winter. However, some necessary modifications were included in the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre like the addition of water sprinklers (to avert fires) and the development of a lobby and visitor’s centre. In addition, the theatre can only accommodate 1,500 people, unlike the original theatre which had a capacity of 3,000 people. At present, an English theatre director and actor by the name of Dominic Dromgoole serves as the Globe’s artistic director. Introduction
History
Features
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