The Globe Theatre

William Shakespeare and his troupe performed at the Globe Theatre, a playhouse located near London during Elizabethan times.

The original Globe Theatre was built in 1576 by James Burbage. For twenty years the company called the King’s Men performed there. Later they were called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. In 1597 problems arose concerning the lease on the land where the Globe was situated. The next year the company demolished the playhouse and moved the timbers across the Thames River in Southwark. It was reconstructed there.

The playhouse could hold as many as 3000 people. Groundlings could pay a penny to stand in the yard and watch a play. The wealthier people sat in the balconies and galleries. All performances were held during the day because there wasn’t lighting on the stage.

For fourteen years the Globe Theatre was a successful playhouse. In 1613 the Globe caught fire during a performance of Henry VIII. A cannon was shot as a part of the show, but it ignited the roof and the whole building burned to the ground. After this, the playhouse was rebuilt “with a tiled roof (Shakespeare’s Globe)” and remained in business for many years. In 1642 the Puritans closed the theater. It was then torn down to make tenements. The foundation of the Globe was rediscovered in 1989. Today a reconstructed playhouse exists in its original location. This theater strives to be “as faithful… as possible to the Elizabethan model (Shakespeare Resource Center).”

The Globe Theatre has an eventful background, but it was an important part of history. Even today it is a place to view the great works of William Shakespeare.

“Shakespeare’s Globe.” Shakespeare Resource Center. 25 May 2010. .

“The First Globe.” Shakespeare’s Globe. 25 May 2010. .

“Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.” eNotes. 25 May 2010. .

Michael J. Cummings. “The Globe Theatre.” Cummings Study Guides. 25 May 2010. .