Renaissance Theater

The Reconstructed Globe Theater in London.

Sam Wanamaker CBE 1919-1993

When the young American actor came to London in 1949, he set out to visit the site of Shakespeare’s Globe and was amazed to find that the only testimony to its existence was a blackened bronze plaque on the wall of a brewery. He conceived of a finer memorial to the great playwright, a replica of the Globe itself.

Location

The Theatres in Shakespeare’s time were built outside the wall of London for multiple reasons: firstly, the suburbs expanded and they ran out of room; secondly, the theaters were considered dens of immoral behavior because they took people away from work in the afternoon thusly outside the wall was outside the jurisdiction of the Privy Council who controlled the opening and closing of the theatres; finally, there was just more room to build the theatres. Other industries thrived in the Southwark suburb: animal baiting pits, prostitution, and other shady enterprises.

History

James Burbage built the first theater in 1576 and named it “the Theater.”

Before the building of the “Theater,” plays were performed in the courtyard of and inn or tavern.

The “Curtain” was the next theater built, the “Curtain” was built in the London Suburbs, more specifically in the Red Light District.

In order of construction – Rose, Swan, Fortune, Globe, and the Red Bull.

The Globe was erected from the timbers of the “Theater.”

Design

• The Design of the theater is in the shape of a circle courtyard like the courtyard of an Inn, because the original traveling performers performed in the courtyards of beer halls and inns, with a natural open air atmosphere that allowed the elements to be a factor.

Cross Section

Three Parts to the TheatreThe Building ProperThree stories high surrounding a spacious

inner yard open to the sky.16 sided polygon2 entrances, 1 public, 1 for theater companyGeneral Admission – 1 penny, entitled to

“groundling” – stand in the yardPatrons paid more to sit in the galleriesMost expensive seats were on the stage off to

the side – nuisance to audience and actorsHeld 3,000 people

Three Parts to the Theatre

The StageJutted out halfway into the yard.Actors were in much closer contact with the

audience than they are today.Audiences realized that the play was make-

believe.Audiences wanted fantasy over reality

because reality was so harsh, escapist attitude.

Three Parts to the Theatre

The Tiring House – “Backstage”Tall building contained machinery, dressing rooms, and

provided a two storey back wall for the stage.Gallery above and curtained space below.Gallery – for

musicians or spectators, or parts of the play could be performed there.  Doubled as a balcony, wall, hill, etc.

Curtained Area – “Inner Stage” – “Indoors”Doubled as a bedroom, dungeon, throne room, etc.

Trap Door – Gate to Hell, Tomb, Downstairs, People could vanishHeaven – Opening in roof of stage – ascension of charactersScenery – audiences were ready to use their imaginations.

Writers could write scenery in the text – advantage, fast paced, not many scenechanges.Props and Effects – painted brightly, many decorations, costumes, elaborate, and expensive.

Exterior

• The rebuilt Globe theater is designed and built with the same materials with which the original was built.

• The brickwork is mud, horsehair, and whitewash.

• The roof is thatched.

This structure boasts the only thatched roof in England because of the fire hazard. It has a modern sprinkler

system.

Modern lighting was added for security and safety reasons as well as more than one

entrance and exit for the public.

Public Door

Single Section of Octagon

Expensive Seats on the Stage

Curtained Area

Gallery

Tiring House

Heaven

Full Stage, Trap Door in Middle

Stage

The Yard

Groundlings

Virtual Tour

http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/abouttheglobe/virtualtour/