The History of the Globe Theatre in London
Featured in The Great St Mary’s Day Out by Jodi Taylor
An AI generated voiceover has been added for accessibility.
The Globe Theatre in London holds a significant place in the history of English theatre, particularly as the venue most associated with William Shakespeare. Originally constructed in 1599, the theatre became synonymous with the English Renaissance's flourishing drama and culture.
The original Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company of actors that included Shakespeare himself. The company was established under the patronage of Henry Carey, the Lord Chamberlain, which gave the troupe its name. The theatre was constructed on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, an area known for its entertainment venues, outside the strict regulations of the City of London. It was built using timber from an earlier theatre, appropriately named "The Theatre," which had been dismantled after a dispute over the lease.
The Globe was a polygonal, open-air structure with a capacity to hold up to 3,000 spectators. It was three stories high and featured a large, uncovered central yard where the audience, referred to as "groundlings," could stand to watch performances. The stage extended into the yard, allowing actors to interact closely with the audience.
The Globe Theatre quickly became the epicenter of London’s theatrical world. Many of Shakespeare's most famous plays, including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, were performed at the Globe. It was here that audiences first experienced Shakespeare’s mastery of language and drama. The unique design of the Globe provided an intimate atmosphere that allowed for dynamic interaction between the actors and the audience, enhancing the experience of Shakespeare's works.
The Globe was not only a venue for Shakespeare’s plays but also hosted the works of other playwrights, including Ben Jonson. As the popularity of theatre grew, so too did the fame of the Globe and its association with Shakespeare’s genius.
Despite its success, the original Globe Theatre met a disastrous end. On June 29, 1613, during a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, a theatrical cannon fired to mark the entrance of the king ignited the thatched roof of the theatre. The fire spread rapidly, and within an hour, the Globe was reduced to ashes. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
The theatre was swiftly rebuilt in 1614 with a tiled roof, replacing the thatch to prevent future fires. However, the fortunes of the Globe and the English theatre began to wane in the mid-17th century. In 1642, under the Puritan government of Oliver Cromwell, all theatres were closed, and in 1644, the Globe was demolished to make way for tenements.
The Globe Theatre may have been lost for centuries, but its legacy endured. The 20th century saw a renewed interest in Shakespeare and his theatres, leading to efforts to reconstruct the Globe. The driving force behind this movement was American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, who spent decades fundraising and advocating for the theatre’s revival.
Construction of the new Globe began in 1987 near the site of the original, and it was completed in 1997. The reconstructed Globe Theatre is as faithful as possible to the original, using traditional building techniques and materials, including a thatched roof, though modern safety regulations were observed. The new Globe seats approximately 1,500 spectators and has been designed to recreate the atmosphere of a 16th-century theatre. It is now part of the Shakespeare’s Globe complex, which includes an indoor playhouse, an exhibition, and an education center. It’s a thriving cultural hub that attracts visitors from around the world and stages performances of Shakespeare's plays and other works. The Globe’s mission extends beyond performances, with educational programs, workshops, and outreach efforts that aim to keep the legacy of Shakespeare and Elizabethan theatre alive.
Discover how the team from St Mary’s fared at the original Globe Theatre in The Great St Mary’s Day Out.
We hope you have enjoyed this History Briefing about The Globe Theatre. Please CLICK HERE to read more history briefings that give you background information about the history from The Chronicles of St Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor.