Notes on the Globe Theatre Lecture

Overview

• The Globe Theatre in London is the third version of the original theatre.
• The first Globe Theatre was constructed around 1598 and opened in 1599.
• Other important theatres in the area included the Hope, Swan, and Rose.

Location

• The original Globe is about 200 yards from the current site, near the River Thames which was wider at that time.
• The foundations of the original Globe were rediscovered in 1989, marked by a plaque.
• The South Bank was a popular entertainment area during Elizabeth I's reign, including bear and bull baiting.

Theatre Operations

• Theatre-going was popular among all social classes; people traveled by ferry or walked across London Bridge to attend performances.
• Theatres advertised shows by raising a flag visible from the north bank.

Historical Timeline

• The first Globe Theatre saw major events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth and the rise of James I.
• It burned down in 1613 due to a cannon accident during a performance of "Henry VIII."
• A second Globe was built in 1614 but was closed and demolished by Puritans in 1644.

Modern Globe Theatre

• The current Globe is a reproduction built thanks to Sam Wanamaker, opened in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth II.
• The design aims to be as faithful to the original as possible.
• Open-air design with a circular shape, utilizing natural light for performances.

Structure and Features

• Roof made of Norfolk reed thatch, first in London since the Great Fire of 1666.
• Walls constructed of Lincolnshire oak and plaster of sand, lime, and goat hair.
• Interior layout is based on a 16th-century sketch of the Swan Theatre.

Audience Experience

• The open air area is known as the pit or yard for Groundlings (standing audience), which is the cheapest ticket option.
• Galleries around the pit accommodated 2-3,000 seated audience members, costing two or more pennies.
• Play-goers in Shakespeare's time focused on the importance of the script, saying "I’m going to hear a play."

Stage Features

• The stage projects into the pit, with spectators sometimes sitting at its edge.
• Supported by two painted pillars resembling marble, with the roof called "the heavens."
• Special effects possible with a trapdoor in the stage, enhancing productions like in "Hamlet."
• A balcony above the stage for musicians, used in plays like "Romeo and Juliet."

Conclusion

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