Globe Theatre Overview

Introduction

• The Globe Theatre in London is the third of its kind.

Historical Background

• First Globe Theatre:

  • Built around 1598 and opened in 1599.
  • One of four significant theatres in the area (others: Hope, Swan, Rose).
  • Site marked by a plaque, original location is 200 yards away.
  • Foundations rediscovered in 1989.

• Theatre Context:

  • Located on the south bank of the River Thames, known as Bankside during Elizabethan times.
  • Popular entertainment included bear/bull baiting.
  • The public accessed the theatre by ferry boats or walking over London Bridge.
  • Performances advertised with flags raised over theatres.

Timeline of Globe Theatres

• First Globe:

  • Hosted notable Shakespeare works from 1599 to 1609.
  • Witnessed the death of Queen Elizabeth and the rise of James I.
  • Burned down in 1613 due to a cannon accident during a performance of Henry VIII.

• Second Globe:

  • Built on the same site in 1614.
  • Closed by Puritans in 1642 and demolished in 1644.

• Third Globe:

  • Constructed from 1993 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.
  • Faithful reproduction of the original Globe, relying on limited historical information.

Architectural Features

• Design:

  • Circular 20-sided shape, open to the sky for natural light.
  • Roof made of Norfolk reed thatch, first since the Great Fire of 1666.
  • Walls of Lincolnshire oak and plaster (sand, lime, goat hair).
  • Interior layout based on a sketch by Dutch traveler Johannes de Witt.

• Audience Experience:

  • Open area called the pit or yard for standing audience (groundlings).
  • Cost to watch a play was one penny in the pit, accommodating about 1,000 groundlings.
  • Galleries: 2-3,000 seats for two or more pennies, with the best views close to the stage.
  • Emphasis on hearing the play (audience would say "I'm going to hear a play").

Performance Aspects

• Seating Capacity:

  • New Globe holds 900 in galleries and 700 in the pit.

• Actors:

  • All roles played by men and boys; elaborate costumes used.

• Stage Design:

  • Stage projects into the pit, with audience on three sides.
  • Supported by two painted pillars representing marble.
  • Stage roof (the heavens) for special effects, painted with celestial themes.
  • Tiring house: Actors' dressing rooms, accessed through doors in the stage wall.
  • Wood stage, 5 feet high, with trapdoor for effects (e.g., Hamlet's grave).
  • Balcony for musicians and used as settings in plays (e.g., Romeo and Juliet).

Conclusion

• The Globe Theatre is an integral part of English history and remains a significant attraction in London.