SHAKESPEARE'S THEATRE-THE GLOBE

The Stage, the pit & seating

Shakespeare and his writings are known all over the world. Shakespeare  was born in Stratford upon Avon in England in April 1564. He began staging his plays in London near the River Thames. The first theatre where his play was staged was called "The Rose". After  that his plays were staged at The Globe Theatre near Shoreditch. This theatre was built in  1599 and was destroyed by an accidental fire in June 1613, when during a performance a misfired theatrical cannon set fire to the wooden beams and thatches of the theatre. The second Globe theatre was built at the same site in June 1614 and was closed in 1642 by the Puritans. The third Globe Theatre called "Shakespeare's Globe" was built in 1997 about 230 metres away from the original site. This new Theatre is right on the banks of the river Thames.  At the location of the original Globe theatre of 1614 A.D. there is now a parking lot of a housing complex. The outline of the theatre, as it was then, has now been preserved, at the parking lot. 

The Thames

During my last visit to London, I went to see a play by Shakespeare at this historic theatre. The play was "Julius Ceasar". I had purchased the tickets to watch this play and had booked well in advance, so I could get good seats on the top most floor.  The theatre layout is very interesting. It is a circular building with a thatched roof. The stage is rectangular and thrusts out into the middle of the open air yard. The centre of the theatre does not have a roof. 

The Pit at base of stage

In the centre of the theatre, at the base of the stage is an open area which is called the "pit" or yard. This is the place from where one can watch the play by buying a ticket for 5 pounds. In olden times these tickets were available for one penny. The viewers watching from the Pit were called the Groundlings. They would stand on the rush strewn earthen floor throughout the performance. They were not permitted to sit even if there was space. Even now spectators watching from the pit are not allowed to sit when the show is on.

Rapt attention

Around this Pit or yard there are three levels of seating under a roof. For sitting there are benches without backs, except in the last row of each floor, where one has a back rest. There are pillars on each floor, which could obstruct one's view of the stage to some extent. I was surprised to note that while one ticket could cost around 39 pounds, the seat next to it could be for 27 pounds, because of the slight obstruction by the pillar. I thought that the  tickets are priced very judiciously. It is truly the British sense of fair play!

Wooden benches

The stage is rectangular and measures 43 feet in width, 27 feet in depth and is raised about 5 feet off the ground. The seating capacity is for 1380 people and standing in the pit is for 700 people.

No props, no curtains

There are no props or scenery on the stage. At the beginning of the play the performers come and place whatever items are needed for the scene. At the end of the act they themselves pick up the props and take them away. There are no curtain drops and every act is performed in continuity. In fact after Julius Ceaser is killed  there was blood spread on the floor, which was cleaned with mops by two performers. This kind of theatre was very new to me and I loved watching this unique ness

The costumes of the actors, the dialogue delivery, the acting were simply brilliant.

Entertainment in the pit

Before the play began there was a lot of noise in the pit. From three different doors  hawkers, musicians and entertainers came into the pit. This was part of the play and it was the scene  of a feast which the Romans were indulging in. While this was happening the stage was being prepared by other actors.

Once the actual play started the concentration of the audience was rapt. 

Cushion on hire

Oh yes I forgot to tell you that before one enters the theatre we pass through a foyer from where one can hire a cushion for 1 pound. The benches in the theatre are made of wood and can be quite uncomfortable when one has to sit for at least three hours. Food and drinks can also be pre ordered and one can have them in the interval without queueing up.

The bow

Watching a play at The Globe is an exciting experience. It is unique and absolutely worth it. It is very different from watching a play in any other theatre. It is the olden form of dramatics which is still being continued in this well maintained beautiful replica of the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare.