Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company. It was

situated in London, to the south of the Tames. The original Globe Theatre burnt in 1612

during a performance of Henry VIII, a play written by William Shakespeare. Actually, the

fire started with cannons, which ignited the thatch roof. It was rebuilt just afterwards but

the Puritains closed it down in 1642. The Globe Theatre was demolished two years later

to build up housings.

The reconstruction of the current Globe Theatre was Sam Wanamaker’s idea, an American actor.

It began in 1993, according to plans of the old Globe and it was finished in 1997. Insofar as

possible, each detail of the original were copied to the new for create an identical theatre. Since

1666 and the Great Fire of London, the new Globe have been the first building to have a

planning permission with a thatch roof .

Similar to the original, the stage is circular and is surrounded by three bleachers, which are tilted

a lot. The most expensive places are covered, the others are in open-air. That’s why there is

only performances in the evening. While the old theatre had a capacity of 3,000 people, the

current Globe can only receive 1,300 people.

Although the architects wanted to rest true to the plans and to Shakespeare’s time, there are

modern equipments though. For example, there is fire extinguishers everywhere, the lights are

electrical and contemporary.