The Globe Theatre

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The Globe Theatre

• Past and Present

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Three Globe Theatres

• The original Globe Theatre, built in 1599 by the
  playing company to which Shakespeare belonged,
  and destroyed by fire in 1613.
• The Globe Theatre was rebuilt in 1614 and closed
  in 1642.
• A modern reconstruction of the original Globe,
  named "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre", opened in
  1997.

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The Original Globe Theatre

• The Globe was the principal playhouse of the Lord
  Chamberlain's Men (who would become the King's
  Men in 1603)
• The Globe was owned by a group of actors, who
  (except for one) were also shareholders in the
  Lord Chamberlain's Men.

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• At the base of the stage, there was an area
  called the "yard," where people (the
  "groundlings") would stand to watch the
  performance.

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• Around the yard were three levels of seating,
  which were more expensive than standing in the
  yard.

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• The Globe was built using timber from an earlier
  theatre called The Theatre.
• On June 29, 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in
  flames during the first performance of Henry the
  Eighth. A theatrical cannon, set off during the
  performance, misfired, igniting the wooden beams
  and thatching.

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• Like all the other theatres in London, the Globe
  was closed down by the Puritans in 1642. It was
  destroyed in 1644 to make room for tenements.

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A New Era of The Globe Theatre

• A new Globe theatre was built according to an
  Elizabethan (1558-1603) plan.
• Although the reconstruction was carefully
  researched, the original plan was modified by the
  addition of sprinklers on the roof to protect
  against fire, and the theatre is partly joined
  onto a modern lobby and visitors centre.

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• In addition, only 1,500 people may be housed
  during a show, unlike the 3,000 of Shakespeare's
  time (Elizabethans were less concerned about
  their personal space than modern theatregoers).

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• It opened in 1997 under the name "Shakespeare's
  Globe Theatre" and now stages plays every summer
  (May to October).
• lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Globe_Theatregt

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Shakespeares Birthplace

• Stratford-Upon-Avon, England
• Has become a tourist trap, seeing over 3.5
  million visitors every year
• Many great authors have made their pilgrimage to
  the Bards birthplace

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There are some parts of the plays youll never
understand. But excuse me, I thought thats what
great art was supposed to be about. Dont freak
out over it. Keep reading. Peter Sellers
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(No Transcript)
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Shakespeares Grave

• Holy Trinity Church
• A few blocks from his birthplace, on the River
  Avon
• More than 200,000 tourists every year
• Church is still used for services

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• He was not for an age, but for all time!
• Ben Jonson

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Life and Times of William Shakespeare

• - b. 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon - 1582 married
  Anne Hathaway (8 years his senior) She was
  pregnant
• - b. 1583 daughter Susanna
• - b. 1585 Hamnet and Judith (twins)
• - So, by 20 Shakespeare was married with 3
  children
• - needed to provide for his family
• - wasnt making enough money in Stratford,
  decided to move to London
• - Shakespeare ended up paying off all his family
  debts
• - d. 1616 in Stratford at New Place
• - he was 52
• - wrote plays during the reign of two monarchs
  (Queen Elizabeth 1558 1603 and King James 1603
  1625)

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Elizabethan England

• Medical Issues
• - measles
• - scarlet fever
• - flu
• - these could be fatal for children
• - Shakespeares own son died during childhood
• - many women died during childbirth
• - famine was prevalent
• - simple medical procedures could result in death
  because of infection (pulled tooth)

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Religion

• - most people believed in God
• England was protestant, having broken away from
  the Catholic church (Reformation)
• Catholics were ostracized from the community and
  country
• After Elizabethan Era Jacobean Era
• - Protestant Puritans wanted to rid the church of
  anything that was of the Catholic church.
• - They believed fine clothing, drinking, gambling
  and going to see plays were all things that would
  / could condemn you to hell

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Folklore / Superstition

• - some believed in fairies, goblins and spirits.
  
• - insanity, nightmares were thought to be caused
  by the influence of these spirits
• - witch hunting prevalent people (women) were
  accused of being witches if they were simply
  socially awkward. Killed by the church.
• - disease and disasters were blamed on witches.
• - Astrology was important

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Life in London

• - port city, growing, poverty and wealth in great
  contrast
• - lots of entertainment cock fighting and bear
  baiting
• people liked to watch public beatings and
  executions
• The Black Death Bubonic Plague 1592-1594
• 1603 - 1604
• 1623
• Over 100 000 people died. Disease was carried on
  rats.

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Theatre

• - town squares
• - village greens
• - not popular in the beginning
• - Audience cheap tickets (one penny)
• expensive ticket (6 pence)
• - Ranging in class. Thieves and
  pickpockets were prevalent
• - Crowds tended to be pretty rowdy