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Samantha Foglia
The History of the Globe Theater
The Globe Theater was one of the most historical dwellings of the 16
th
century. Many
famous actors and playwrights such as William Shakespeare performed at the establishment. The
theater attracted citizens of all different social classes and diverse backgrounds. It came to be a
successful business, not only for the owners, but the viewers too. The Globe Theater was built in
1599, was a place for gathering, and home to some of Shakespeares greatest plays.
(An Internet Source States) The first original theater built was called, The Theatre.
James Burbage owned the theater in Shoreditch, London, which was built in 1576. Burbage held
a twenty-one year lease to build the theater. (History of Elizabethan London Theaters)
(A Website States)He built it on land leased by Giles Allen, who was a wealthy puritan. Giles
was not fond of the theatre at all, but wasnt able to stop James Burbage from leasing his land.
(Biography of James Burbage) Before theaters came about, plays were performed in courtyards,
or in the houses of the noblemen. The new theater was a innovative and improved way to
showcase performances. The building of this theater sparked other theaters to be built in the
London area, such as the Rose Theater and the Hope Theater.
(An Internet Source States)The twenty-one year lease for the ground upon which the
theater had been built was due to expire at the end of 1597. All attempts to negotiate the new
tenancy and lease agreement of the theater failed. Giles Allen intended to tear down the Theater
and raise the lease, because he was opposed to all theatrical productions. Later, Burbage found a
clause in their former lease allowing them to dismantle the Theatre building. They decided to
disassemble The Theatre and transport the timber to a new Theater site on Bankside in
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Southwark. The land had once been owned by the Bishop of Winchester and the estate was
called, the Liberty of the Clink.(The Lease of the ' Theatre ' expires)
A carpenter, Peter Smith and his workers assembled the new Globe in 1597. These were
otherwise known as, Lord Chamberlins men. The Theater was designed as to look similar to a
small Roman amphitheater. (The History Channel Website States) The Globe was a round
wooden structure, with a stage at one end, and covered balconies for the gentry. The galleries
could seat about 1,000 people, with room for another 2,000 "groundlings," which could stand on
the ground around the stage. ( The Globe Theater burns down) It was also used as a brothel and
gambling house. The Globe was finally opened in 1599. (An Internet Source States)To announce
the arrival of the new playhouse, Lord Chamberlains Men flew a flag presenting the figure of
Hercules carrying a Globe on his shoulders to announce the forthcoming performance of their
first performance, Julius Caesar. This theme was displayed above the main entrance of the Globe
Theater. The crest displayed Hercules bearing the globe on his shoulders with the motto "Totus
mundus agit histrionem," which means, The whole world is a playhouse. This phrase was
slightly re-worded in William Shakespeares play As You Like It, as "All the worlds a stage"
which was performed at the Globe Theater later.(The Globe Theatres crest and motto)
(An Internet Source States)Since there was no lighting, all performances were conducted,
weather permitting, during the day. Most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air. This
meant that acoustics were poor and actors were compelled to shout their lines and stress their
enunciation. There were no curtains or stagehands to speak of other than the actors themselves.
Instead, changes of scene were indicated in the speeches and narrative situations that
Shakespeare wrote into the text of the plays. The stage was fitted with a number of apparatuses
and distinct sections that were creatively used by Shakespeare in his stage directions.(Structure
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of the Globe)
The Globe was constructed out of the timber used for the original theater. It was three
stories high with no roof and was a hexagonal structure. (Accoriding to Severdia)A rectangular
stage platform, also known as an 'apron stage', stuck out into the middle of the open-air yard. The
stage measured approximately 43 feet in width, 27 feet in depth and was raised about 5 feet off
the ground. On this stage, there was a trap door for use by performers to enter from the area
beneath the stage. There may have been other trap doors around the stage. Large columns on
either side of the stage supported a roof over the rear portion of the stage. The ceiling under this
roof was called the "heavens," and may have been painted with clouds and the sky. (Layout of
the Globe) (According to Mabillard) Underneath the floors of the outer and inner stages, was a
large cellar called "hell", allowing for the dramatic appearance of ghosts. Actors in "hell" would
be encompassed by darkness, with the only light coming from tiny holes in the floor or from the
tiring-house stairway at the very back of the cellar. (The Globe Stage) Behind the stages was the
tiring-house, the three-story section of the playhouse that contained the dressing rooms, the prop
room, the musician's gallery, and connecting passageways. Two doors on either side of the
tiring-house allowed the actors entrance onto the stage. (The Tiring House)
The entire Elizabethan theater scene opened its doors to the low life of the pits. It also
accommodated an audience of a higher status. The Globe was truly a microcosm or little world
of man. (A Website States) Men and women attended plays, but often the prosperous women
would wear a mask to disguise their identity. Audiences only declined significantly in number
when the bubonic plague occurred. Many theaters closed due to the Black Death. During the 16
th

century it only cost about two pennies to see a play at the Globe. One of the pennies was for
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admission and the other was for seating arrangements. Profits were shared between members of
the Globe Company. Shakespeare received approximately 10% of the profit although he had a
20% stake holding in the troupe as James Burbage owned the lease for the land that the Globe
Theater was built on. (The Globe Theaters Audiences and the Box Office) Competition between
theaters was fierce. There was a continuous demand for new material and bigger and better
plays. Each theater would attempt to outperform the other and gain larger audiences. Rival
theater companies would send their members to attend plays to produce unauthorized copies of
plays, since there was no copyright back then.
There were a total of 26 names recorded as the Principal Actors of Shakespeares
company at the Globe. (According to Cummings) Richard Burbage, brother to Cuthbert, major
partner in the Globe, was at the top of the list. He initiated the performance of some of
Shakespeares most famous characters, including Hamlet, Lear, Othello, and brought even
greater vitality to other role. Indirect evidence suggests that, the playwright knew in advance that
Burbage would be the "star," and had him in mind when he created the characters of Hamlet,
Lear, and Othello. (Actors) (According To An Internet Source) Prior to the Globes opening in
1599, the leading comic actor of Chamberlains men was Will Kemp. His roles included those of
the servant Peter in Romeo and Juliet, Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream, and Falstaff of
the Henry IV plays. (The Globe Theater - the Actors)

Along with writing his own plays, Shakespeare also acted in them. Shakespeares name
appears in the cast lists of plays written by other Elizabethan authors, but there is no indication of
the roles that he may have played. (William Shakespeare) It is likely that he might have played
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Edward I in 1593. It is also assumed that Shakespeare played smaller roles in a variety of his
own plays, including As You Like It, Macbeth, Henry IV and Hamlet. Although Shakespeare
did act, his activity was secondary not only to his work as a playwright but also to his labors as a
theatrical producer. (Shakespeare the Actor)
(William- Shakespeare) The original structure of the globe stood until June 29
th
1613,
when its thatched roof was set ablaze by a cannon fired during a performance of Henry VIII and
the Globe burned to the ground. This was mainly due to its flammable straw roof. The cannon
was supposed to be used for special effects, but was loaded with gunpowder.(The Globe Theater
- the Fire and the re-building of the Globe Theatre) By this time, Shakespeare was in semi-
retirement at Stratford-on-Avon where he would die three years later at the age of fifty-two. The
Globe was later reconstructed in 1614.
During the 16
th
century the Globe served as a place for entertainment and exciting get-
togethers. It was a place for expression and liveliness. The Globe made a huge impact on
Londons residents. Shakespeare blossomed greatly from this establishment, along with other
actors and playwrights. The Globe Theater was built in 1599, was a place for gathering, and was
home to some of Shakespeares greatest plays. The Globe will forever remain a significant part
of Englands history.