The Globe Theatre
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 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 order of The Globe's actual dimensions Parliament on 6 September 1642. are unknown, but its shape and A modern reconstruction of the Globe opened in 1997 approximately size has been approximated from 750 feet (230 m) from the site of the original theatre. research over the last two centuries. The evidence suggests History of The Globe Theatre The Globe was owned by actors who that it was a three-storey, open- were members of a troupe called ‘The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. There air amphitheatre approximately were six actor shareholders, of which Shakespeare was one. However, 100 feet (30 m) in diameter that he did not own the majority of shares: Richard Burbage and his brother could house up to Cuthbert, owned 50% of the share. 3,000 spectators. The Globe is The Globe was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre which shown as round on Wenceslas had been built by Richard Burbage's father, James. Though James Hollar's sketch of the building, owned the theatre, he did not own the land on which it was built: he later incorporated into his leased it. The landowner, Giles Allen, claimed that the theatre etched Long View of London from belonged to him once the lease expired. However, whilst Allen was Bankside in 1647. However, in celebrating Christmas at his country home, the actors and their friends 1988–89, the uncovering of a dismantled the theatre, piece by piece and transported it to another small part of the Globe's location on the banks of the River Thames. Then carefully, with the foundation suggested that it was help of a skilled carpenter, the wood pieces were reconstructed and a polygon of 20 sides which help became The Globe Theatre. decide the shape of the theatre when it was reconstructed in On 29 June 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a 1997. performance of Henry VIII. A theatrical cannon, set off during the performance, misfired, igniting the wooden beams and thatching. According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches were put out with a bottle of ale! It was rebuilt in the following year.
Like all the other theatres in London, the Globe was closed down by the Puritans in 1642. It was pulled down in 1644–45 to create land for the building of houses. Wencenslas Holler’s sketch of the Globe.
Why did the Puritans close the Globe? The Puritans were a religious faction who spread the strict view that any kind of flippant behaviour was deplorable: therefore, they deplored theatres. Theatres attracted young people, and it was thought that many apprentices were lured to the theatre insteadWenceslas of working. Hollar’s sketch Theatres of the also attracted pickpockets, gamblers, beggars and all sorts of rogues and respectableGlobe. citizens were concerned about the rise in crime, not to mention the possible spread of Bubonic Plague.
The Puritans got their way, and by 1642, all theatres were down by an order of Parliament. Rules became even stricter and anyone caught acting was to be seized and whipped, whilst anyone attending a play was fined five shillings.