THE GLOBE
HISTORY
in 1559, the original globe theatre
built by an acting company to which William Shakespeare belonged , opened.
technically, six men owned
different shares in the theatre, with the bulk of the property belonging to brothers Richard and Cuthbert Burbage.
unfortunately,
the original Globe Theatre lasted only 14 days. In 1613, it burnt to the ground during a performance of Shakespeare's Henry VIII.
THe fire was attributed
to a theatrical cannon, which misfired and set the thatched
roof and wooden timbers aflame.
the theatre was rebuilt
the following year, but the Puritans - who didn't believe in such entertainment - closed it down in 1642.
In 1644 it was destroyed to make way for homes.
in 1989 the original location
of the theatre was finally revealed during excavation work.
the new globe theatre,
built according to Elizabethan plans, was the brainchild of American actor and director Sam Wanamaker.
the theatre opened in 1997.
It is located on Bankside,
about 183 meters from the original site.
it was the first building
with a thached roof allowed to be built in London
since the Great Fire in 1666.
similar to the original,
the stage of the new Globe Theatre extends into a large circular,
which is surrounded by three tiers of very steep seating.
in total, the theatre
can accommodate about 1300 patrons, less than half
of the 3000 or so who could attend productions during
Shakespeare's time.
totus mundus agit histrionem
because all the world is a playground
THE GLOBE
By Zuzanna Kalinowska
