Shakespeare’s Globe Shakespeare’s Globe TheaterTheater

An OverviewAn Overview

IntroductionIntroductionThe Globe theater was built The Globe theater was built

in the Southwark district of in the Southwark district of London in 1599.London in 1599.

The location was considered The location was considered the “sporting district”- a the “sporting district”- a place for cock-fighting, bear-place for cock-fighting, bear-baiting and other bawdy baiting and other bawdy attractions.attractions.

The “sporting district” was outside The “sporting district” was outside the legal reach of city officials the legal reach of city officials

The Globe was built by Cuthbert The Globe was built by Cuthbert Burbage, an associate of Burbage, an associate of Shakespeare.Shakespeare.

Burbage built the Globe for Burbage built the Globe for Shakespeare and the Chamberlain Shakespeare and the Chamberlain MenMen

The Globe’s StructureThe Globe’s Structure

The Globe Theater was The Globe Theater was open airopen air (no roof) & (no roof) & three levels high. three levels high.

The Globe could fit between The Globe could fit between 2,000 to 3,000 spectators.2,000 to 3,000 spectators.

All performances were All performances were conducted during the day conducted during the day (No (No lighting!).lighting!).

There was no acoustics, so There was no acoustics, so actors had to shout their actors had to shout their lines and exaggerate their lines and exaggerate their gestures. gestures. (No sound system!)(No sound system!)

The actors had costumes and The actors had costumes and props, but no background scenery.props, but no background scenery.

A change in the scene was A change in the scene was indicated through speeches or indicated through speeches or narrations Shakespeare wrote into narrations Shakespeare wrote into the play.the play.

The plays were about three hours The plays were about three hours long.long.

The AudienceThe Audience

The audience included both The audience included both common citizens as well as common citizens as well as wealthy and elite citizens.wealthy and elite citizens.

For For one pennyone penny you could you could stand and view the play; stand and view the play; they were called they were called groundlingsgroundlings..

For two pennies you could For two pennies you could get a seat above the get a seat above the groundlings.groundlings.

The Globe was a place were The Globe was a place were all walks of life came all walks of life came together.together.

The ActorsThe ActorsThe actors were all males, so the The actors were all males, so the

female parts were played by female parts were played by young boys.young boys.

Acting was considered a “purple Acting was considered a “purple profession”.profession”.

Actors were vulnerable to arrest Actors were vulnerable to arrest on charges of vagrancy (being on charges of vagrancy (being without a job or home).without a job or home).

Then and NowThen and Now

The original Globe stood until The original Globe stood until June 29June 29thth 1613. 1613.

Unfortunately, it caught on Unfortunately, it caught on fire and burned to the ground fire and burned to the ground when a cannon was fired when a cannon was fired during a performance of Henry during a performance of Henry VIII.VIII.

Shakespeare died three Shakespeare died three years later at the age of 52, years later at the age of 52, April 23April 23rdrd 1616. 1616.

The Globe was rebuilt in The Globe was rebuilt in 1614, but in 1642 a more 1614, but in 1642 a more religious regime came into religious regime came into power and closed all power and closed all theaters in England.theaters in England.

Two years later, the Two years later, the theater was torn down theater was torn down and homes were built in and homes were built in its place.its place.

Recently, the Globe has Recently, the Globe has been rebuilt.been rebuilt.

The Inside of the new Globe The Inside of the new Globe TheaterTheater

The Virtual TourThe Virtual TourShakespeare's Globe Theatre, Banksi

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