Globe Theater in London – history, photo, description, how to get there, prices 2021, map
The first Globe Theater was built in 1599. It was a round building without a roof, intended for summer performances. It owes its original name to the sculpture of Atlanta standing at the entrance, holding a ball on his shoulders (Latin globus, “ball”). On the ribbon wrapped around it, the words were read: “The whole world is a theater.”
Shakespeare's first “Globe”
During the construction of the First Globe, they used the wooden structures of the old theater, owned by the Burbage acting dynasty since 1576. It was located in the city of London in the Shoreditch region and ceased to exist in 1597 due to the prohibitively high rent for the land on which it stood. Then it was disassembled into logs and transferred to the south bank of the Thames. This place was in the suburbs, and the rent was much lower here. In 1599 the theater was assembled and began its work.
The first “Globe” belonged to six owners who formed the backbone of the troupe. Their shares were different, the main funds were invested by two actors – the Berbegi brothers. William Shakespeare, the playwright, initially had 12.5%, and then his share decreased to 8%. Profit from the performances was distributed in proportion to the invested funds. The troupe also included hired actors who worked only for salaries.
The theater did not last long: only 14 years. In June 1613, during the premiere of Shakespeare's Henry VIII, a fire broke out. A botched stage shot that landed a spark on the thatched roof set the building on fire and burned down within two hours. Fortunately, no one was hurt in this.
Second Globe. Excavations
The following year, the burned building was restored, but as a precaution it was built of stone, and the roof was covered with tiles. By this time, Shakespeare had already left the troupe, but the theater was inextricably linked with his name, the plays of the great playwright were still successfully staged on the stage. The second “Globe” lasted until 1642 and was closed by the Cromwell government, which encouraged aggressive Puritans who rejected any kind of entertainment. They did not recognize the cultural and educational role of art, but perceived it as a hotbed of immorality and debauchery. In a short time, all theaters in England were closed, including the Globe.
After 2 years, the building was razed to the ground, and cheap overnight houses were built in its place. Over time, they also disappeared, and the place where the temple of Melpomene, beloved by the audience, once stood, seemed to be lost forever. However, in 1989, the remains of the foundation of the old building were discovered. Comparing its configuration with the descriptions preserved in the archives, we came to the conclusion that this is the glorious Globe Theater. It turned out that the building, which was considered to be round, is in fact a polygon with 20 faces. A more detailed study was not carried out, since the foundation is located on the territory of the Anchor Terrace historical monument and excavation is prohibited. We limited ourselves to marking the contours of the foundation.
What was the building of the theater under Shakespeare
There is no reliable information about the appearance and interior of the Globe. According to the available documents, descriptions, fragments of drawings of the similar Swan Theater, the remains of the foundation, pictures of the cityscapes of London of that time, only an approximate appearance was restored. Externally, the building was a twenty-sided. The auditorium had the shape of an oval platform measuring 29.6 * 31.1 m, surrounded by wooden walls. A thatched roof covered the upper seats and the stage.
The central part of the building was open-air, so the performances were held only in the warm season – from May to September during daylight hours. There were no intermissions, the scenery was almost never used, they were replaced by signs with the inscriptions: “Forest“, “Garden”, etc. After a loud trumpet signal, the audience took their seats, they collected money from them and the performance began. The actors were exclusively male, who also played female roles.
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Spectator seats
The theater accommodated, according to various sources, from 1,200 to 3,000 spectators, and was accessible to all classes. Seating places for spectators – wooden benches – were located along the perimeter of the wall in three tiers and surrounded the stage from three sides. The lower tier was at the level of the stage, where the aristocracy sat, the second and third were intended for wealthy citizens. There were several seats on the side of the stage for especially honored spectators.
Seat prices varied according to prestige, with the most expensive being on stage. The poor, who bought cheap tickets for one penny, watched the performances, standing around the stage, from the so-called “pit”. There were about 700 such seats. The atmosphere in the auditorium was relaxed. During the performances, the audience actively participated in the action, loudly approving or condemning the performance of the actors, exchanging remarks, eating nuts and oranges, throwing waste at their feet. It was not forbidden to relieve natural needs on the spot.
Backstage and places for musicians
The stage, 13 meters wide and 8 meters deep, extended into the auditorium in a rectangle and had no curtain. It was raised above the floor by about 1.2 – 1.5 m. The place around the stage was called the “pit”. There was a free space between the stage and the floor, covered with curtains. Inventory was stored there, which was served in a hatch located on the stage. Through the hatch in the course of action, sinners fell into the “underworld“, the inhabitants of the underworld, ghosts, devils, witches came out of it.
There were three doors at the back of the stage, behind which the actors changed and went out to the audience. Above the stage, in the depths, there was a platform used in performances as a castle wall or a balcony. Characters appeared on it: Juliet, the shadow of Hamlet's father, heralds, and so on. In addition, musicians performing live music were sometimes placed on the upper platform. There was no specific place for the musicians, so they also appeared on the stage, creating a unique mood by playing cheerfully on simple musical instruments: lute, drum, flute.
Above the balcony was a small room. It resembled a hut with two windows, from which the actors appeared during the scenes played out and uttered monologues. A flag was fixed on the roof of the hut, by the color of which the inhabitants of the district determined which performance was going on: the tragedy was black, the comedy was white, the historical drama was red. The stage was covered with a thatched roof – “heaven“, which was supported by two powerful columns, was painted on the inside with the signs of the zodiac. There was a hatch in it, from which representatives of the other world descended on ropes: angels, gods, spirits.
Theater today
The Globe was forgotten for more than 300 years. Its restoration began with an idea owned by the American Sam Wanamaker, a famous actor and director. The British were skeptical of his proposal, and they refused to finance the project. In 1970, Wanamaker creates a fund to finance the construction, bit by bit collects materials on the construction of the building, attracts architects and builders. The construction of the building began at a distance of 200 m from the historical location of the first theater. In 1993, when the frame was completed, Wanamaker died. His followers completed the project in 1997. Queen Elizabeth II herself opened the new Globe.
Its appearance is as close as possible to the original sample. It is a summer theatre, without a roof, built of massive oak logs, the roof over the stage and the upper tier is made of straw, which is the first case in London in 300 years. For safety reasons, all building materials are impregnated with fire-fighting compounds. As in the time of Shakespeare in the theater, a stage protruding into the auditorium, seating places are located on three tiers, and standing places (500 seats) are around the stage.
The modern “Globe” is designed for 1600 people and is one of the most visited places in London. Standing places are the cheapest and are popular with students and young people. In total, more than 250 thousand people visit performances during the season. The season runs from late April to mid September. Out of season, visitors are attracted by the museum at the theater, which contains costumes and utensils from the time of Shakespeare, sketches, models, scenery. The museum contains interesting facts about the life and work of the playwright, his works and personal belongings.
Performances
There is no permanent troupe in the theater, every year a new composition is formed. The Globe's repertoire consists mainly of Shakespeare's plays: The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, Henry IV, Othello, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth. Plays by other famous authors and young English playwrights are staged, drama groups from different countries tour. Performances take place during the day, as artificial lighting is not used, as well as any voice amplifiers. The performances differ from the medieval ones in that the roles are played not only by men, but also by women.
Copies of the theater in other countries
The Globe has won love all over the world. Its great popularity among fans of the performing arts is due to the fact that it conveys the atmosphere of theatrical performances of the Shakespeare era and allows the audience to travel back to that ancient time. In many cities of the world, copies of the London Globe Theater have been created. They cannot be called exact, they are rather interpretations of the London theater, each of which has its own characteristics. A total of 12 were built: 6 in US cities, 3 in Germany, 1 in Italy, 2 in Russia. Russian theaters in Moscow and Novosibirsk, due to the peculiarities of the climate, have a roof and are not summer.
Where is it located and how to get there
The Globe Building is located in the heart of London's cultural Bankside quarter on the south side of the river opposite the City of London. Its address is: SE1 9DT, London, Bankside New Globe Walk, 21. The Millennium Bridge, which is 50 meters away, can serve as a landmark. Blackfriars, London Bridge, Southwark and St. Paul's tube stations are within a 10-15 minute walk.
You can also get there by bus:
Open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.