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The Globe
Theatre
Past and
Present
Three Globe Theatres
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The original Globe Theatre, built in 1599 by
the playing company to which Shakespeare
belonged, and destroyed by fire in 1613.
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The Globe Theatre was rebuilt in 1614 and
closed in 1642.
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A modern reconstruction of the original Globe,
named "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre", opened
in 1997.
The Original Globe Theatre

The Globe was the principal playhouse of
the Lord Chamberlain's Men (who would
become the King's Men in 1603)

The Globe was owned by a group of
actors, who (except for one) were also
shareholders in the Lord Chamberlain's
Men.

At the base of the stage, there was an area
called the "yard," where people (the
"groundlings") would stand to watch the
performance.

Around the yard were three levels of
seating, which were more expensive than
standing in “the yard.”
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The Globe was built using timber from an
earlier theatre called The Theatre.

On June 29, 1613, the Globe Theatre went
up in flames during the first performance
of Henry the Eighth. A theatrical cannon,
set off during the performance, misfired,
igniting the wooden beams and thatching.

Like all the other theatres in London, the
Globe was closed down by the Puritans in
1642. It was destroyed in 1644 to make
room for tenements.
A New Era of The Globe Theatre

A new Globe theatre was built according
to an Elizabethan (1558-1603) plan.

Although the reconstruction was carefully
researched, the original plan was modified
by the addition of sprinklers on the roof to
protect against fire, and the theatre is
partly joined onto a modern lobby and
visitors centre.

In addition, only 1,500 people may be
housed during a show, unlike the 3,000 of
Shakespeare's time (Elizabethans were
less concerned about their personal space
than modern theatregoers).

It opened in 1997
under the name
"Shakespeare's
Globe Theatre"
and now stages
plays every
summer (May to
October).
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Globe_Theatre>
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Stratford-Upon-Avon, England
 Has become a tourist trap, seeing over 3.5
million visitors every year
 Many great authors have made their
pilgrimage to the Bard’s birthplace

“There are some parts of the
plays you’ll never understand.
But excuse me, I thought
that’s what great art was
supposed to be about. Don’t
freak out over it. Keep
reading.” – Peter Sellers
Shakespeare’s Grave
Holy Trinity Church
 A few blocks from his birthplace, on the
River Avon
 More than 200,000 tourists every year
 Church is still used for services

“He was not for an
age, but for all
time!”
– Ben Jonson
Life and Times of
William Shakespeare
- b. 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon - 1582 married Anne Hathaway (8
years his senior) She was pregnant
 - b. 1583 daughter Susanna
 - b. 1585 Hamnet and Judith (twins)
 - So, by 20 Shakespeare was married with 3 children
 - needed to provide for his family
 - wasn’t making enough money in Stratford, decided to move to
London
 - Shakespeare ended up paying off all his family debts
 - d. 1616 in Stratford at “New Place”
 - he was 52
 - wrote plays during the reign of two monarchs (Queen Elizabeth
1558 – 1603 and King James 1603 – 1625)
Elizabethan England
Medical Issues:
 - measles
 - scarlet fever
 - flu
 - these could be fatal for children
 - Shakespeare’s own son died during childhood
 - many women died during childbirth
 - famine was prevalent
 - simple medical procedures could result in
death because of infection (pulled tooth)
Religion
- most people believed in God
England was protestant, having broken away from the
Catholic church (Reformation)
- Catholics were ostracized from the community and
country
After Elizabethan Era – Jacobean Era
- Protestant Puritans wanted to rid the church of anything
that was of the Catholic church.
- They believed fine clothing, drinking, gambling and going
to see plays were all things that would / could condemn
you to hell
Folklore / Superstition
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- some believed in fairies, goblins and spirits.
- insanity, nightmares were thought to be
caused by the influence of these spirits
- witch hunting prevalent: people (women) were
accused of being witches if they were simply
socially awkward. Killed by the church.
- disease and disasters were blamed on witches.
- Astrology was important
Life in London
- port city, growing, poverty and wealth in great
contrast
 - lots of entertainment: cock fighting and bear
baiting
 people liked to watch public beatings and
executions
 The Black Death – Bubonic Plague: 1592-1594
1603 - 1604
1623
 Over 100 000 people died. Disease was carried
on rats.
Theatre
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-
town squares
village greens
not popular in the beginning
Audience: cheap tickets (one penny)
expensive ticket (6 pence)
- Ranging in class. Thieves and
pickpockets were prevalent
- Crowds tended to be pretty rowdy