Old globe theatre

There were three different types of venues for Elizabethan plays: Inn-yards, Open air Amphitheatres and Playhouses. The Inn-yards were the original venues of plays and many were converted into Playhouses. The Amphitheatres were generally used during the Summer while, during the Winter Season, the Acting Troupes moved to the indoor playhouses .

The history of the old Globe Theatre is a short and turbulent one as the old Globe Timeline will clearly indicate.

Full details of the growth of the Elizabethan theatre can be accessed by clicking Elizabethan Theatres and Playhouses and the timeline helps to clarify the places and events. All of this started in 1576 as the timeline shows.

Timeline

1564 April 23. Birth of William Shakespeare.

1598 Shakespeare is mentioned as "a principal comedian."

1599 The Globe Theatre is opened on Bankside.

1601 Shakespeare's acting troupe, the Chamberlain's Men, are     commissioned to stage Richard II at the Globe.

1613 June 29, Fire at the Globe Theatre.

1614 Globe Theatre is rebuilt on original foundations.

 1642 The English Civil War beaks out between the Parliamentarians (Puritans) and the Royalists.

1644 The Globe Theatre is demolished by the Puritans.

 1660 The Restoration sees the opening of the theatres again. But the Globe Theatre is never re-built.

The Globe Theatre - How exciting…!

Days out at the Globe Theatre would be an exciting event. The grounds surrounding the Globe Theatre  would be bustling with people. There would be Stalls selling merchandise and refreshments creating a market day atmosphere. Non playgoers would flock to the Globe Theatre to go to the market stalls and 'soak in ' the holiday-like atmosphere. The Globe would particularly attract young people. A trumpet would sound to announce to people that the play is about to begin at the Globe Theatre in order for people to take their final places.

Structure of the Globe
The theatre that Cuthbert Burbage built for the Chamberlain's Men had a total capacity of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators. Because there was no lighting, all performances at the Globe were conducted, weather permitting, during the day (probably most often in the mid-afternoon span between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.). Because most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air, acoustics were poor and the actors were compelled by circumstances to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures. What would seem most striking to a modern (Broadway) theatregoer about the productions staged at the Globe is that they were completely devoid of background scenery.

There was no proscenium arch, no curtains, and no stagehands to speak of other than the actors themselves. Instead, changes of scene were indicated explicitly or implicitly in the speeches and narrative situations that Shakespeare wrote into the text of the plays.

The stage was fitted with a number of mechanisms (trap doors in its floor for instance), and distinct sections (e.g., a sub-stage space toward its back lip for parallel action) that were creatively utilized by Shakespeare in his stage directions. It was surrounded on three sides by the "pit" in which "one-penny" spectators stood and, at a setback, by an amphitheatre having a gallery and seating for "two-penny" theatregoers. While the galleries of the two-penny section may have been partially covered, the stage and the pit were open air. On the fourth side of the stage was an adjacent "tiring" house, where costumes changes were made. It was capped by a small turret structure, from which a flag and a trumpeter would announce the day's performances.

The Pit or Yard
The Pit, or yard, was the area located around the stage. There was no seating - the cheapest part of the Globe Theatre and the audience had to stand. In the ' yard '  the commoners (groundlings) paid 1 penny admission  to stand to watch the play. During the height of the summer the groundlings were also

referred to as ' stinkards ' for obvious reasons!

The Gentlemen’s room

There were additional balconies on the left and right of the ' lord's rooms ' which were called the ' Gentlemen's rooms '. For rich patrons of the Globe theatre the cost was 4 pence & cushioned seats were provided.

There were additional balconies on the left and right of the ' lord's rooms ' which were called the ' Gentlemen's rooms '. For rich patrons of the Globe theater - the cost was 4 pence & cushioned seats were provide

HEAVENS AND FLOOR OF THE STAGE

 The floor of the stage was made of wood, sometimes it was covered with decorations.

On the back of the stage there was a roofed house - like structures supported by two large columns called “Herculean Pillars” made of huge and painted to resemble marble emulating the Roman and Greek classical style.

These pillars supported a roof called Heavens, a false ceiling over the stage.

Heavens served to create an area hidden from the audience.

This area provided shelter for the actors and their costumes during bad weather.

The false ceiling provided the opportunity to stage some special effects and it was designed with trap doors.

Trough the trap doors actors, attached to wires or ropes, could make flying entrances on to the stage.

Others special effects could be made from the Heavens including different sounds.

· The stage wall structure contained at least two doors which led to a small structure, back stage, called the “Tiring House”.

· The stage wall was covered by a curtain. The actors used this area to change their look and dress.

· Above the stage wall was the stage gallery known as “the Lord’s rooms” that were used by actors, musicians, and rich patrons.

· Behind the pillars was the stage wall called the “Frons scenae” (taken from the name given by Imperial Rome to the stage walls of their amphitheatres).

· The stage had a doorway to the left and right and a curtained central doorway from which the actors made their entrances.