The Globe Theatre

Monday, 04 January 2010 16:18

London guide - London attractions

The London Globe was built in 1599 as the home of William Shakespeare's productions. However it was destroyed by a fire in 1613 and a replacement was built in its place in 1614 this was then closed in June 1642. Then in 1997 a reconstruction of the Globe was built, now called Shakespeare's Globe. It is a museum of many of Shakespeare's works where you can gain insight into the everyday goings on behind the scenes, and it also is used as a theatre for productions of Shakespeare plays. There are guided tours, workshops, special educational days and other exhibitions there.

The Globe not suprisingly is round and has an open roof. There are three tiers of stalls which are covered as is the stage but, what is known as "the pit" was not. "The pit" was where the plebians stood to watch. The tickets were much ceaper than the seated ones and the view was much worse as you stand lower than the stage. The stage itself was quite advanced with trapdoors not only in the bottom to facilitate someone disappearing, but also one i nthe roof so characters could be lowered as if to appear from the heavens.

Shakespeare's Globe is situated right on the south side of the river Thames by Bankside only 50m from the millenium footbridge.

By Tube: Mansion House, London Bridge, Southwark, St.Paul's. They are all between 10 and 15 minutes walk away.

By Bus: 45, 63, 100 to Blackfriars Bridge
15, 17 to Cannon Street
11, 15, 17, 23, 26, 76 to Mansion House
381 to Southwark Street
344 to Southwark Bridge Road
RV1 to Sumner Street.

Ofcourse you can drive, bicycle or take a taxi or you could even go by boat.

The GLobe has different tours on every day. Visit www.shakespeares-globe.org for more information about each specific event.

Ticket prices for a perfoemance range from 15 to 35 pounds with it only being a fiver to stand.

Shakespeare's Globe
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
London SE1 9DT