The Shakespeare Globe Theatre was a theatre in London, England, built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named “Shakespeare’s Globe”, opened in 1997 near the site of the original theatre.
The Shakespeare Globe Theatre was originally built by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. It was located on Bankside, just south of the river Thames. The original Globe Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1613. A new Globe Theatre was rebuilt in 1614, but it was also destroyed by fire in 1644.
A modern reconstruction of the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, named “Shakespeare’s Globe”, opened in 1997 near the site of the original theatre. The Shakespeare Globe Theatre is now a popular tourist attraction in London.
In the cobblestone lanes and hastily constructed playhouses of England in the 1500s, a remarkable transformation occurred. At that time, there was a surge of literary accomplishments that had never been seen in theatrical history before. Playwrights took the Elizabethan Theater to new heights with their innovative approach to theater. Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe were among those who wrote scripts about real people in a variety of actual settings.
The Globe Theatre was one of the first theaters to be built in this new era. Shakespeare, Marlowe and many of their contemporaries often acted and performed their own plays there. The Globe Theatre was a circular theater that had three levels of seating: the groundlings, the lords, and the ladies.
It was an open-air theater with a thatched roof, meaning that rain would pour right through it onto the audience. (Yowell 14) Shakespeare’s company originally performed at the Rose Theater; however, around 1599 they moved to the Globe. The Globe was built by Shakespeare’s friend and fellow actor, Richard Burbage.
The design of the Globe Theatre was apparently based on an earlier theater called The Theatre. The Theatre was built by James Burbage, Richard’s father. When The Theatre was dismantled, the materials were taken to Southwark and used to build the Globe. (Heilman) Shakespeare’s company performed at the Globe for about twelve years, until it burned down on June 29, 1613. Shakespeare had retired from the stage a few years before and was not in London at the time.
The Globe Theatre was rebuilt approximately one year later, with a new thatched roof. It was again destroyed by fire on January 20, 1616, this time incinerating the original Shakespeare manuscripts. (Yowell 15) The Globe Theatre was finally closed in 1642 due to Puritan opposition to theater.
What did Shakespeare do in the Globe Theatre?
He was a member (part-owner) of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theater company. He was also a part-owner of the Globe Theatre for about 20 years, from 1599. So for approximately 20 years, he earned money as an actor, playwright, and theater owner.
The Globe Theatre was a big, open-air amphitheatre. It could hold up to 3,000 people. Shakespeare’s plays were performed there for the first time. And his company also put on plays by Christopher Marlowe and other playwrights.
Shakespeare’s company was very popular. Everyone wanted to see their plays. So they usually performed six days a week, with two shows a day. There were no curtains or sets in the Globe Theatre – the actors just walked on and off the stage as if they were in someone’s living room. Shakespeare must have been a very talented actor to make his words sound so real!
The Globe Theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1613. But Shakespeare had stopped performing there a few years earlier, so he wasn’t hurt. Shakespeare went on to write some of his most famous plays after the Globe Theatre burned down, including Macbeth and The Tempest.
So, Shakespeare was a very successful playwright and actor. He made a lot of money from his work and he was famous all over the world. But I think what’s most impressive about him is that he wrote some of the best plays ever – and they’re still being performed today!
How does the Globe Theatre relate to Shakespeare?
The Globe, which opened in 1599 and was the first playhouse to exhibit some of Shakespeare’s most renowned works, became the site of many great events. During a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, the roof caught fire in 1613, destroying the original Globe. A new second Globe was quickly constructed on the same site and opened in 1614.
Shakespeare was a shareholder in the Globe and may have had a hand in its design. Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare’s contemporary and fellow playwright, is also thought to have performed at the Globe. In fact, many of Shakespeare’s plays were probably written for performance at the Globe. The open-air theatre was designed to be as close to the audience as possible, with no formal proscenium arch or stage curtains.
This gave the audience an up-close view of the action and created an immersive theatrical experience. The Globe Theatre was also known for its lively atmosphere, with musicians and actors often coming out into the audience between scenes.
The audience’s happiness was apparent in their enthusiasm for more performances. The public was highly interested in the theaters and playwrights of this era. People from all across London would journey to see the Elizabethan Theater, which had a powerful dramatic atmosphere. During the medieval period, theater was an essential aspect of Elizabethan life. Life during Elizabethan times was dangerous and difficult. Many people were poor tenant farmers who lived at the mercy of wealthy landlords.
Diseases like the plague were rampant. But in the theaters, people could forget their troubles and experience another world, even if it was only for a few hours.
The Globe was a large circular building made of oak that could hold up to 3,000 people. It had three levels: the ground level, the middle level, and the upper level. The ground level was for the common people who stood to watch the play. The middle level was for the wealthier people who could afford to pay more for tickets and sit on benches. The upper level was for the really wealthy people who could afford to pay even more and sit in chairs.
In Shakespeare’s day, the Globe Theatre was an all-purpose theatre. It was used for plays, concerts, bear-baiting, and other spectacles. Bear-baiting was a popular sport in Shakespeare’s day. A bear would be chained to a post in the center of the arena, and dogs would be set loose to attack it. The audience enjoyed watching the bear fight for its life and sometimes even eat the dogs.
