| Step back into Shakespeare's time with a | | | | well-heeled, and better educated individuals. |
| visit to the Globe Theatre in Southwark, a | | | | |
| stunning reconstruction of the Bard's early | | | | It is often mentioned in passing that |
| playhouse. Founded by the actor Sam | | | | Shakespeare himself appeared as an actor on |
| Wanamaker, this is not only a working | | | | the Globe's stage. This aspect of the Bard's |
| theatre, but an educational centre and the | | | | life in the theater should not be |
| world's largest exhibition devoted entirely | | | | over-estimated. Shakespeare's name appears in |
| to Shakespeare and his world. | | | | the cast lists of plays written by himself |
| | | | and by other Elizabethan authors, but there |
| Shakespeare's company erected the storied | | | | is no indication of the roles that he played. |
| Globe Theatre circa 1598 in London's Bank | | | | Tradition ascribes two parts to Shakespeare |
| side district. It was one of four major | | | | himself, that of the Ghost of Hamlet's Father |
| theatres in the area, along with the Swan, | | | | in Hamlet and that of Adam, the loyal, aged |
| the Rose, and the Hope. The open-air, | | | | servant in As You Like It. In 1603, |
| octagonal amphitheater raised three stories | | | | Shakespeare apparently acted in a play |
| high with a diameter of approximately 100 | | | | written by his friend and fellow author, Ben |
| feet, holding a seating capacity of up to | | | | Jonson. |
| 3,000 spectators. The rectangular stage | | | | |
| platform on which the plays were performed | | | | Shakespeare's Globe is the new kid on the |
| was nearly 43 feet wide and 28 feet deep. | | | | block (or the oldest kid, depending upon how |
| This staging area probably housed trap doors | | | | you look at it). A faithful reconstruction of |
| in its flooring and primitive rigging | | | | the original, the open-air theatre is open |
| overhead for various stage effects. | | | | only from May through September but, by using |
| | | | floodlights which furnish what its |
| The foundations of the Globe were | | | | spokespeople call "artificial daylight" at |
| rediscovered in 1989, rekindling interest in | | | | night, The Globe is able to schedule both |
| a fitful attempt to erect a modern version of | | | | matinee and evening performances. |
| the amphitheater. Led by the vision of the | | | | |
| late Sam Wanamaker, workers began | | | | The Globe also offers "The Globe Experience," |
| construction in 1993 on the new theatre near | | | | a museum/tour which tells the story of how |
| the site of the original. The latest Globe | | | | Sam Wanamaker, an American actor, pursued and |
| Theatre was completed in 1996, Queen | | | | fulfilled his dream of re-building the same |
| Elizabeth II officially opened the theatre on | | | | theatre for which Shakespeare wrote. The |
| June 12, 1997 with a production of Henry V. | | | | museum contains costumes, miniatures of other |
| The Globe is as faithful a reproduction as | | | | Elizabethan theatres and interactive displays |
| possible to the Elizabethan model, seating | | | | which allow visitors to "join the cast" or |
| 1,500 people between the galleries and the | | | | hear actors, ranging from Ellen Terry to |
| "groundlings." In its initial 1997 season, | | | | Kenneth Branagh, bringing Shakespeare's words |
| the theatre attracted 210,000 patrons. The | | | | to life. |
| Globe Theatre, and indeed, the entire | | | | |
| Elizabethan theater scene opened its doors to | | | | Anil Gupta recommends that you visit london |
| the low life of the pits, it also | | | | hotels for more information. |
| accommodated an audience of higher-status, | | | | |