Globe Theatre

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Globe Theatre

Address	Maiden Lane (now Park Street) London England
Type	Elizabethan theatre
Construction
Opened	1599
Closed	1642
Demolished	1644
Rebuilt	1614
Years active	1599–1642

The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, on land owned by Thomas Brend and inherited by his son, Nicholas Brend, and grandson, Sir Matthew Brend. The theatre was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed by an Ordinance of the Long Parliament in 1642. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named "Shakespeare's Globe", opened in 1997 approximately 230 meters (750 ft) from the site of the original theatre.

History

Construction and Early Years

The Globe Theatre was constructed in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre, simply known as The Theatre, which had been built by the Burbage family in Shoreditch in 1576. The Burbages had a 21-year lease of the site on which The Theatre was built but owned the building outright. When the lease expired, they dismantled the theatre and transported the materials south of the River Thames to construct the Globe.

The First Globe

The original Globe Theatre opened in 1599 and was one of the most famous theatres of its time. It was a three-story, open-air amphitheatre that could house up to 3,000 spectators. The stage was a large platform that extended into the audience, and there was a trap door for special effects. The theatre was circular in shape, with a diameter of approximately 100 feet.

Fire and Rebuilding

On 29 June 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry VIII. A theatrical cannon misfired, igniting the wooden beams and thatching. The theatre was quickly consumed by the fire, but no one was seriously injured. The Globe was rebuilt by June 1614, this time with a tiled roof to prevent future fires.

Closure and Demolition

In 1642, the Puritans closed all theatres in London, including the Globe, as part of their campaign against public stage plays. The Globe was demolished in 1644 to make way for tenements.

Modern Reconstruction

In 1997, a modern reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, named Shakespeare's Globe, was opened to the public. The new theatre is an academic approximation based on available evidence of the 1599 and 1614 buildings. It is located near the original site and serves as a working theatre and an educational resource.

Related Pages

• William Shakespeare
• Lord Chamberlain's Men
• The Theatre
• Shakespeare's Globe
• Elizabethan theatre
• Henry VIII (play)
• Ordinance of the Long Parliament