Globe Theatre Notes

Globe Theatre Notes The Globe Theatre in London was where most of William Shakespeare's plays were first presented. It was built in 1599 by two brothers, Richard and Cuthbert Burbage, who owned its predecessor 'The Theatre' at Shoreditch in north London. Before 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men performed in public primarily at The Theatre, which had been leased by James Burbage, father of Richard.

In winter of 1598, “The Theatre” was dismantled piece by piece, the wood shipped across the Thames to Southwark on the south bank and reassembled it there.

Opened in 1599 Shares of the new theatre were divided between the Burbage brothers, the land owner Sir Nicholas Brend, and five members of the Lord Chamberlain's men: Shakespeare, John Heminges, Augustine Phillips, Thomas Pope and William Kemp.

Located on the Thames River Had raw sewage, dead dogs floating in it Rise and lower with the tide

Also called “Wooden O” octagonal in shape - open center

Accommodated about 3,000 people

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. No one was hurt except, according to one of the few surviving documents of the event, for a man who put out his breeches with a bottle of ale.[1] Closed in 1642 by Puritans because they needed room for tenement dwellings.

Cost of Admission

Open to all for the modest fee of just one-penny (roughly 10 % of a worker’s daily wage), you could stand in the yard at the center of the playhouse. Without an overhead roof, such a view was exposed, but with the stage set at eye level some 5 feet off the ground, you got the closest view in the house. For a little more (roughly two pennies), you could pay to sit in one of the playhouse's three circular galleries; the gentry with time on their hands and comfort on the minds frequently paying more for the comfort and status, the gallery seats conferred.

Layout

At the base of the stage, there was an area called the "yard," where people (the "groundlings") would stand to watch the performance. Around the yard were three levels of seating, which were more expensive than standing: the first two were called the Twopenny Rooms and the top level was called the Penny Gallery. The Groundlings Paid 1 penny to get in -- no seats for them Took their own lunches, got drunk, party atmosphere Often threw food at actors Not educated, no social graces, etc. Shakespeare tried very hard to appeal to them

The Pit Area in front of stage where groundlings stood to watch performances Open air – unprotected from weather

Minimal scenery, natural lighting, words in play gave time of day and place of scene

Lots of action, duels, murders, clowns, ghosts, witches, noise, puns, with, asides, music, shouting, et

Length of play Lasted about 2 – 21/2 hours Usually began sometime from noon to 2 PM

Scene Ended by Tapestry walked across the stage Change of actors No curtains to signify end of scene/act

NO female actresses Apprentice actors (young males) played female parts

Announcement of Plays Playbills were posted in the city Flag was raised atop the theatre Different color flag for different type of play (new play, comedy, tragedy, etc.)

Props Death / stabbing scenes – used pigs bladders filled with blood (worn under tunic costume) Shakespeare starts almost every play with a fight Minimal furniture props

Music Elizabethans loved music Every Shakespeare play had music in it somewhere

Costumes Used costumes authentic to the actor’s times (not accurate to the play’s setting) Received costumes by buying them cheaply from servants who had inherited them Colors were symbolic Dark Blue – servant or apprentice Scarlet – ruler Yellow – jealousy Orange – pride Azure blue – honor Rose – gallantry

Women In Elizabethan times, theatre was not appropriate for females Only the really wealthy attended accompanied by a Lord Ladies of the Evening often elicited their profession in the Pit before performances

Admission Everyone who went in the front door to the pit paid 1 penny The pay more to sit under a covered area – lower balcony -skilled worker, tradesman, Shopkeeper Box seats – upper balcony – near musicians – wealthy – Lords

London Other forms of entertainment in theatres Bear baiting – English bulldogs tormented a bear fastened to a stake by a chain Cock fighting Usually done on Sundays and holidays

London Bridge Traitors’ heads (after executions) placed on stakes lining the bridge (to discourage disloyalty.)

Actors Had to be able to fence, tumble, dance, sing, and play two roles in one play Had to have strong voices with good elocution (no microphones) Lord Chamberlain’s Men – original acting group Shakespeare belonged to Later changed to King’s Men Acting company consisted of 10-12 adults, 6 boy apprentices, and 2-3 stage hands

Changes Globe moved once cross the river Burned down once because of cannon pointed at thatched roof Closed once because of the plague Torn down due to the Puritan movement that plays were immoral

Renaissance – means rebirth - Queen Elizabeth’s reign

Motto of the Globe: All the world’s a stage