Although there are many famous theatres across the world, the Globe Theatre in London is still one of the most recognisable. Strongly associated with William Shakespeare, it is an enduring monument to British playwriting and theatre. (And quite frankly, one of those London pictures that you see everywhere.) With theatres, including the Globe, re-opening with Covid-19 restrictions easing, I wanted to dive into the Globe a little further today. This History Bite is going to explore the history of the Globe Theatre!
Shakespeare and Southwark
You can find the Globe Theatre in Southwark, on the south side of the River Thames. Now Southwark is a part of London, but in Shakespeare’s lifetime, Southwark was a separate city. It was known for drinking (the breweries were here), gambling (bear baiting, too!), and the dissolute theatre. You can find traces of Shakespeare all over in Southwark, including in Southwark Cathedral.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was originally built in 1599 using lumber from a previous theatre. The first performance is guessed to be Julius Caesar on 21 September 1599, but the first confirmed performance was actually a Ben Jonson play (Every Man out of his Humour). In 1613, the theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry VIII when a cannon misfired, and was rebuilt in 1614. Like nearly every theatre, the Puritans closed the Globe in 1642, and pulled it down in 1644.
Luckily for us all, American actor and director Sam Wanamaker was quite irritated that no replicas of the Globe Theatre existed in the UK while there were several in the US and elsewhere. He secured several million dollars to rebuild the theatre, and created the Shakespeare Globe Trust. While the current playhouse is not on the exact spot where the original stood, it is close by. (The original is marked by a plaque.)
If you are like me and not in London, you can still enjoy the Globe’s productions! I’ve got more info for you in my online theatre post here.
Were you familiar with the history of the Globe Theatre?
Cheers,
The Historian
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