Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare's Globe
Name	Shakespeare's Globe
Caption	The Globe on the south bank of the River Thames
Location	Bankside, London
Type	Reconstructed Elizabethan playhouse
Opened	1997
Architect	Theo Crosby (project leader), Tim Ronalds (consultant)
Capacity	c. 1,400

Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstructed Elizabethan playhouse on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It is a working theatre, a cultural landmark, and an educational centre that stages plays by William Shakespeare, contemporaries such as Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe, and modern dramatists. The Globe sits near the site of the original 1599 playhouse associated with the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Richard Burbage, and William Shakespeare and has become part of London's arts landscape alongside institutions like the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the British Museum.

History

The site's story begins with the original Globe (1599–1644), built by members of the Lord Chamberlain's Men including Richard Burbage and the Burbage family, and linked to performances of plays such as Hamlet, Othello, and As You Like It. The original theatre burned down after a cannon shot during a performance of Henry VIII in 1613 and was rebuilt before being closed after the English Civil War and the 1642 theatre closures under the Long Parliament. In the 20th century, scholarly interest from figures like Doc Rowe and campaigners including Sam Wanamaker led to a reconstruction project. The 1970s and 1980s campaign drew support from organizations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and cultural figures connected to the British film industry, culminating in the opening of the modern Globe in 1997 with involvement from architects, historians, and theatrical practitioners influenced by studies of Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Blackfriars Theatre, and research by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Architecture and Design

The Globe's architectural concept is rooted in studies of timber-framed, polygonal playhouses of the late 16th and early 17th centuries; comparable structures include the original Rose Theatre and the The Curtain. The reconstruction uses traditional materials such as oak and lime plaster, and design influences trace to archaeological finds from excavations at Bankside and records like the Henslowe papers. The open-air yard, polygonal galleries, thrust stage, and thatched roof references timber construction techniques documented in period sources and parallels with continental examples like the Commedia dell'arte stages. Conservation and fire-safety adaptations required modern interventions informed by building standards overseen by English Heritage and the City of London Corporation. Acoustic and sightline planning drew on expertise related to venues including the Globe Theatre, New York and the Stratford Festival stages.

Productions and Repertoire

The Globe stages seasonal repertory drawing on the canon of William Shakespeare and works by contemporaries such as Thomas Middleton, John Webster, and Philip Massinger. Notable productions and directors have included practitioners associated with the Royal Court Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, and directors with connections to Trevor Nunn, Peter Hall, and Emma Rice. The company has mounted cycles of histories like Richard III and Henry V, comedies such as Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing, and tragedies including Macbeth and King Lear. The Globe also commissions new writing and adaptations by playwrights with links to the National Theatre and promotes cross-cultural projects with institutions like the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.) and festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Education and Community Outreach

The Globe's education wing delivers programmes for schools, higher education institutions such as King's College London and the University of Oxford, and community groups. Workshops cover acting techniques related to Jacobean theatre, textual study of plays like The Tempest, and historical context referencing figures like James I and Elizabeth I. The Globe collaborates with youth initiatives, veteran support charities, and community arts organisations including the Arts Council England, offering traineeships and apprenticeships modelled on early modern company practices and contemporary vocational schemes.

Visitor Experience and Tourism

Visitors engage with guided tours, exhibitions, and performances, often combining visits to nearby attractions such as the Tate Modern, the Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition (on-site), and the Clink Prison Museum. The open yard allows standing "groundlings" to experience productions in conditions similar to those in the Elizabethan era, while seated gallery patrons enjoy covered views akin to early playhouse galleries. The Globe forms part of London cultural itineraries alongside Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the Southbank Centre, drawing domestic and international audiences and contributing to heritage tourism on Bankside.

Management and Funding

The Globe operates as a charitable trust governed by a board with links to arts governance bodies such as the Arts Council England and donor networks including cultural philanthropists and corporate partners. Funding mixes earned income from ticket sales and tours, philanthropic gifts, and public grants from entities like the Heritage Lottery Fund and municipal support from Southwark Council. The organisation negotiates commercial partnerships and fundraising campaigns while balancing artistic programming, conservation responsibilities aligned with English Heritage, and educational outreach commitments.

Category:Theatres in London Category:William Shakespeare