Globe+Theater

The Globe Theatre

Maura Fay

The Globe Theatre is one of the most famous theatres in the world. Many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays were performed there. Shakespeare was also a joint owner of The Globe. The Globe Theatre has a great deal of history behind it, and some very interesting facts. Before the Globe was built, two brothers named Richard and Cuthbert Burbage inherited a theater. This theater was the first permanent theater in England. When the lease expired, it was demolished. Afterwards, the Globe was built. The construction of The Globe took place outside of London in 1599. Wood from the previous theatre provided material, which saved money. The construction was completed the same year it began. When the theatre was finished, it was the most amazing theatre London had ever seen. The Globe was just a few hundred meters away from the Rose Theatre. The Rose Theatre was run by Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn, who was a famous actor of the day. One year after the construction of the Globe was finished, The Rose Theatre moved because of the pressure and competition from the Globe Theatre. The Rose Theatre later became The Fortune theatre in a different location. The Globe was not very big in size by today’s standards, but in its day, it was a good size. The Globe had the shape of a cylinder; it was a closed structure with a courtyard where the stage was. The original building had a thatched roof, but after it burned down, the new structure had a roof covered in fire resistant material. The walls of the theatre were filled with interwoven wattle, and coated with plaster. The structure consisted of wood and timber. The whole theatre could fit about 2, 500 people at maximum. The lower class stood around the platform, and wealthy patrons were seated on the three levels of galleries. The room backstage was known as the tiring house. It was a very messy room holding costumes, props, and anything else that was needed for the current show. Tiremen had the job of keeping the backstage in order. The trumpeter would wait backstage to signal the audience to quiet. Stairs went up to rooms opening onto the gallery, flag turret, and the room over the stage. Actors were lowered onto the stage from the room above the stage. Below and behind the stage was used for special effects, storage, and costume change. The Globe used many special effects. Ghosts and devils rose from below from a trapdoor. A birdsong was a pipe blown into a pot of water. Drums or a cannon ball rolled on a metal sheet created the effect of thunder. Fake blood was a vinegar filled sponge under an actor’s armpit. Costumes and props were very important to a show. Housekeepers helped to buy different costumes. The majority of the costumes were different versions of the fashions of the day. Actors wore what they thought was right. Props were not as important as costumes, but they were still a big contribution to the performance. The largest props had to be put out on the stage before hand, so they would not disrupt the performance. Stage keepers moved props on and off the platform before the audience noticed. Examples of props that were carried on are a fake iron, rocks, and hedges. Specific props such as tables with fake food, thrones, and tombs were thrust out, most likely for the tiring house’s central curtain opening. The Globe hosted many plays in its lifetime, and many plays were performed in the theater before it. Two of Shakespeare’s most recent plays were performed every year. In the previous theatre, //Two Gentlemen of Verona// (1590); //Richard III; Loves Labours Lost// (both 1593-1594)//; A Midsummer Night’s Dream// (1594- 1595); //Romeo and Juliet// (1594-1595); and //Much Ado about Nothing// (1598) were all performed. In the Globe //Henry V//; //Julius Caesar//; //Richard II// (all 1599); //Hamlet; As You Like It// (both 1600); //Othello// (1603- 1604); //King Lear// (1608); //Cymbeline; The Tempest// (both 1610-1611) were put on. The story of the end of The Globe Theatre is very exciting. In 1609, about ten years after The Globe was built, the company opened a second theatre called Blackfriars. The theatre was bought for £600. The landlord, Giles Allen wanted to destroy the Globe because he did not approve of theatrical entertainment, but he did not have success. In 1613, the roof of The Globe accidentally caught fire, cause by a cannon during a show of Henry VII. No one noticed at first, but soon it was noticeable. Luckily, no one got hurt, but the theatre burned down in about an hour. But, people invested in the reconstruction of the theatre. The Globe was rebuilt one year later with a tilted gallery roof and a more circular shape. About 30 years later in 1644, The Globe was torn down. The Globe Theatre is one of the most marvelous and interesting theatres from Renaissance time, and in history. A copy of the origanal is still standing in London today. Works Cited Allison, Amy. //Shakespeare's Globe//. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2000. Beckerman, Bernard. //Globe Theatre. Encyclopedia Americana.// Grolier Online. April 26. http: //ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0177400-00>. Morley, Jacqueline.// Shakespeare's Theatre//. New York: Peter Bedrick Books,. [|www.onlineshakespeare.com/globe1.htm] April 27