Download Iiams 1 Jennifer Iiams Mrs. Barry English 8 24 March 2011 The

Iiams 1
Jennifer Iiams
Mrs. Barry
English 8
24 March 2011
The Globe Theater Revealed
Built by James Burbage and taking six months to build, the Globe Theater was the most
popular place to watch Shakespearian plays (Pressley and “Globe Theater Facts”). The Globe
Theater was famous in the days of Shakespeare, but when several things went wrong, it became
history.
The building of the Globe was complicated, but with many hands a new spectacular
theater was opened in 1599. It was an “octagonal amphitheater that raised three stories high with
a diameter of approximately 100 feet, holding a seating capacity of up to 3,000 spectators. The
rectangular stage platform on which the plays were performed was nearly 43 feet wide and 28
feet deep. This staging area probably housed trap doors in its flooring and primitive rigging
overhead for various stage” (Pressley). When James Burbage built this magnificent building, he
knew it would attract a lot of attention and it did.
Years later, in 1603, the Bubonic Plague hit London and all theaters, including The
Globe, were forced to close. Sadly, millions were killed, the population decreased, and actors left
the areas to avoid getting the disease (“Bubonic Plague and The Black Death”). “In the late
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries victims of the Bubonic plague (Black Death) would be
sealed in their houses. The houses would be locked and bolted from the outside. The victims
were not allowed to leave and neither was anyone else allowed to enter (“The Black Death
Iiams 2
Bubonic Plague during the Elizabethan Era”). Again in 1608 the Bubonic Plague hit London and
closes all the theaters (“The Old Globe Theater History”).
Not long after the Globe opened, a major fire sent it up in flames.
The Globe Theatre had used a cannon for several years. A cannon had been used
for special effects for several years without any problems. The cannon was
situated inside the roof, in the attic above the "Heavens" in close proximity to the
thatched roof. The cannon was used to create a dramatic special effect such as
heralding great entrances especially in the plays which were about an event in
history. The cannon was loaded with gunpowder and wadding. The Globe theatre
fire accident occurred on June 29 1613. The cannon was fired during a
performance of a play about King Henry VIII. Sparks from the cannon fire landed
on the thatched roof and started a massive fire. (“Globe Theatre Fire”)
While people sat in the performance that day, cannons were being shot off as a part of the
performance. Until someone figured out there was a fire going on, everyone thought the smoke
was just part of the show. In less than an hour the Globe was engulfed in flames and was slowly
burning away ("Globe Theatre History”).
One year later, in 1614, the Globe Theater was reconstructed in the same place as the last
one was. It consisted of the same things, but this time the roof was tiled, not thatched. It was
reopened the same year and it was used for many years after. Until 1642, everything in London
was going smoothly, but in this year a war broke out between the Parliamentarians (Puritans) and
the Royalists (“The Globe Theatre History”). Two years later, the Puritans closed all theaters in
order to make their dwelling that they wanted. “In 1970 the American actor Sam Wanamaker,
who was driven by the notion of reconstructing a replica of the Globe, established the
Iiams 3
Shakespeare Globe Playhouse Trust. . . . They changed the planned 24 sides to 20, for instance,
and, using the angles revealed by the archaeologists, they made the whole polygon 99 feet (30
meters) in outside diameter. By referring to a number of extant Elizabethan buildings for clues to
the structure, style, interior, and roofing, scholars and architects completed the design of the
Globe Theatre reconstruction” (Gurr). The new Globe, which opened in 1997, stands only 200
yards from the original site. In 1997, the new Globe was opened and now stands 200 yards from
where the original one was built (Inspired Diversions: Rebuilding the Globe Theatre).
The Globe Theatre went through some rough time, as well as London itself, but it also
had many years of successful plays. Today, a new Globe Theater stands not far from the one
during Shakespeare’s time and it is open to the public. People can now read and learn about
Shakespeare by visiting this new Globe.
Iiams 4
Works Cited
Alchin, Linda. "Bubonic Plague - Black Death in the Elizabethan Era and Medical
Treatments." William Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://www.williamshakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm>.
Alchin, Linda. "Globe Theatre History." Globe Theatre. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/globe-theatre-history.htm>.
Alchin, Linda. "The Old Globe Theater History." William Shakespeare. N.p., 20 Jul. 2005. Web.
14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globetheatre.htm>.
Pressley, J.M. “Shakespeare’s Globe.” Shakespeare Research Center. Shakespeare Research
Center, 1997-2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.bardweb.net/globe.html>.
"Rebuilding the Globe Theatre - Inspired Diversions." Opera Trips to Europe, Opera and Ballet
Tickets in Europe - Inspired Diversions. Web. 24 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.inspireddiversions.com/article.cfm?DET=1&id_art=26>.