Shakespeare’s Globe Theater An Overview

Introduction The Globe theater was built in the Southwark district of London in 1599. The location was considered the “sporting district”- a place for cock-fighting, bear-baiting and other bawdy attractions.

The “sporting district” was outside the legal reach of city officials The Globe was built by Cuthbert Burbage, an associate of Shakespeare. Burbage built the Globe for Shakespeare and the Chamberlain Men

The Globe’s Structure

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

The Globe could fit between 2,000 to 3,000 spectators. All performances were conducted during the day (No lighting!). There was no acoustics, so actors had to shout their lines and exaggerate their gestures. (No sound system!)

The actors had costumes and props, but no background scenery. A change in the scene was indicated through speeches or narrations Shakespeare wrote into the play. The plays were about three hours long.

The Audience The audience included both common citizens as well as wealthy and elite citizens. For one penny you could stand and view the play; they were called groundlings.

For two pennies you could get a seat above the groundlings. The Globe was a place were all walks of life came together.

The Actors The actors were all males, so the female parts were played by young boys. Acting was considered a “purple profession”. Actors were vulnerable to arrest on charges of vagrancy (being without a job or home).

Then and Now The original Globe stood until June 29th 1613. Unfortunately, it caught on fire and burned to the ground when a cannon was fired during a performance of Henry VIII.

Shakespeare died three years later at the age of 52, April 23rd 1616. The Globe was rebuilt in 1614, but in 1642 a more religious regime came into power and closed all theaters in England.

Two years later, the theater was torn down and homes were built in its place. Recently, the Globe has been rebuilt.

The Inside of the new Globe Theater

The Virtual Tour Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Bankside, Southwark, London.htm