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