Globe Theatre

Shakespeare's Globe is an Elizabethan playhouse on the south bank of the River Thames. It is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre that was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's pla­ying company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and it stands a few hundred yards from its original site.

The original theater was destroyed by fire in 1613 caused by a cannon used in a performance of Henry VIII. After being quickly rebuilt, it was then closed in 1642, due to pressure from Puritans, before being demolished in 1644.

The new Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was founded by Sam Wanamaker (US actor and director) and opened in 1997. The reconstruction was researched in detail to ensure the new building was as similar as possible to the original. No structural steel was used and the theater has the only thatched roof allowed in London since the Great Fire of 1666.

Like the original, the theater has a thrust stage sticking out into a large circular yard which is surrounded by three levels of seating. The stage and seats are covered, but the yard is not. All performances attempt to replicate the atmosphere of the original Globe by not using spotlights (only interior floodlights for evening performances), microphones, speakers, or amplification. All music is live and musicians use period instruments. The audience either stands in the yard or sits on simple benches (though cushions can be hired).

Today, Shakespeare’s Globe stages plays through the summer (between April and October). With seating for 857 and an additional 700 standing places for „groundlings“ in the yard, it’s hard to imagine that this would be about half the size of an audience in Shakespeare’s day!

While visiting, don't miss the available exhibition which takes you on a journey into the life of Shakespeare, the theater he wrote for, and the London he lived in.

The Globe is best accessed on foot via the lovely footpaths along the river from Waterloo and from Southwark Bridge. The Millennium Footbridge is just 50 meters away. The closest Underground stations are all a 10–15 minute walk away; Blackfriars and Mansion House (District and Circle Lines), London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee Lines), Southwark (Jubilee Line), and St Paul's (Central Line). Blackfriars and London Bridge are also major train stations, as are nearby Cannon Street and Waterloo. Local bus routes include numbers 45, 63 and 100 to Blackfriars Bridge, 15 and 17 to Cannon Street, 11, 15, 17, 23, 26 and 76 to Mansion House, the 381 and RV1 to Southwark Street, and the 344 to Southwark Bridge Road.

The theater and exhibition have separate entrances. There is special access for wheelchair users. Photos are allowed unless there are rehearsals in progress, but videos are not allowed on the tour, which guides you through the theater (come early to avoid crowds). These are in English, but information is also available in other languages. There is a little souvenir shop and the Swan at the Globe has a bar and restaurant.

Opening Hours

Mon - Sat: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (5:30 p.m. for the exhibition)

Sun: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission

Tour tickets:

Adult: £13.50
Senior (60+): £12.00
Student (with valid ID): £11.00
Children (5-15): £8.00
Children (under 5): Free

Contact

Email: info@shakespearesglobe.com
Phone: +44 20 7902 1400

• Official website of the Globe Theatre

• Globe Theatre at Wikipedia