The Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre, or "Theatre in the Round" was built at the time of Shakespeare and was a place where the uneducated could come and hear the plays of Shakespeare
Built between 1597 -1599 on a site in Southwark on a piece of land owned by a Thomas Brend. Shakepeares players /actiors were called the Lord Chamberlains Men. They paid approximately 12.5% of their earning sinto a company whch then built the Globe. This is turn gave them and income and a say in the running of the theatre
The Globe Theatre in Southwark London was rebuilt and finally opened in in1996. It was actor, director and an American Sam Wannamaker who persevered put his own money into the project and persuaded the Council to give a piece of land 1.2 acres for the rebuilding of the theatre, even though they were very much against it.
With a grant for the National Lottery of over £12m the project was finally completed, although Wannamaker died in 1993 before it was officially opened by the Queen in June 1997
One very interesting point is that the Globe is the only building in Central London which has a Thatched Roof making it quite unique with in the city. This is because of the fire problem that thatched roofs can become. It has all the necessary fire precautions needed for a building like this.
I suspect that this is a throwback to the Great Fire of London which started in Pudding Lane and devoured so much of the city . I have placed a link below.
London in 1666
Buildings were made of timber – covered in a flammable substance called pitch, roofed with thatch – and tightly packed together with little regard for planning. About 350,000 people lived in London just before the Great Fire, it was one of the largest cities in Europe.
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/history-and-stories/the-great-fire-of-london/
The Globe fromOutside
The view across the river from the Globe
Outside the Globe, which stands on the Bank of the Thames,facing towards the City of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral. It sits next to Tate Modern and about 250 yards from where the original Globe stood in Shakespeare's time.
A view of the Globe stage and the seating arrangements at the side of the theatre, also of standing room which is where in Shakespeare's day the cheapest entry would be standing room only. The Globe is truly Theatre in the Round and was available to any one who had a little money to pay and go and view the latest play." I think warts an all" The floor would have been mud and the people would have thought nothing of having a quick pee here and it would have been a smelly experience with so many people crowed into the space and unwashed at that too.
Our group listening to our guide Mark Rowland telling us about the stage . He was an excellent guide very informative and very enthusiastic about his subject, to the extent that our tour over ran by 30 minutes. It was so good to see someone who loves what they are doing and he really lives their subject.
There were also quite a few other groups there including children so it made it quite difficult to always hear what he was saying due to the noise levels, whice would this have been like back in Shakespeare's day at a performance. Very noisy I am sure that the crowd would have shouted at the players and interacted with them, maybe a bit like Pantomime today
The amazing ceiling above the stage at the Globe with a central hole through which a person could be lifted or dropped to the stage .
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The stage at the Globe , I was surprised at how high it was off the floor when I stood next to it , maybe at shoulder height so more than 4ft 6" from the ground, but at a height which allows those standing in the circular area below ,still a good view. Those "boxes" to the right of the image are where the well heeled would sit , however in some respects their view would be of the backs of the actors, so maybe not the best place.
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The visit was again at a booked time as they have tours going all day. We were followed in by quite a large party of children and judging by the noise I would say that they were enjoying themselves. I believe it is a good idea to get youngsters involved at school age as Shakespeare can be overwhelming for children, but with the right guide they can bring him and the Globe to life explaining what life would have been like at this time and it was quite rough !
This visit is one I would recommend to anyone visiting London, not that it would have probably crossed my mind before going there. It would very worthwhile going to see a performance
Looking at the prices here for Romeo and Juliet in April 2020 starting at £5-00, is not out of the way and should be affordable for most people and especially for students..
The Above are publications that are produced for the Globe, giving information on their guided tours . It was also possible to buy a guide book for the theatre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_View_of_London_from_Bankside
The map was produced by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1647
There are parts of London still recognisable today like Southwark Cathedral . At this time there was only the one bridge crossing the Thames and people wanting to come to the Orginal Globe theatre would have had to walk the bridge of caught a ferry across with others. The copy of the map here was 9' or 2.7m long
Showing here how close to theThames the Globe Theatre is , just a stones throw away.
Across the Thames Southwark Cathedral can still be seen.
The Original Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by Shakespeare and his band of players known as the Lord Chamberlains Men . The Theatre burnt down on the 29th June 1599 after the as the unexpected arrival of the King to watch the play Henry V111.
The firing of the cannon caught the thatched roof of the theatre on fire and within an hour the theatre had burnt down. It was rebuilt again by February 1614 , and there it stayed until Oliver Cromwell's time and in 1642 by an act of Parliament all stage plays and theatres were stopped and by 1644 the theatre was dismantled and the land sold for building .
Shakespeare was known as a sharer or a part owner of the company which gave him incomes from the audiences.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_Theatre
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-globe-theatre/
Some of the props used in the plays at the Globe in the foyer .