Globe Theatre, Elizabethan amphitheater in Southwark, England
The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of an Elizabethan amphitheatre in Southwark, on the south bank of the Thames, with a circular timber frame and three tiers of covered seating surrounding an open central yard. The stage projects far into the yard so that audiences can view actors from three sides, and the roof above the stage is decorated with painted motifs.
The original playhouse was built in 1599 by the company of actors for which Shakespeare wrote and performed, and it burned down in 1613 during a show when a stage cannon set the thatched roof alight. The current reconstruction was completed in the 1990s, standing about 200 meters from the site of the first building.
Performances follow the conventions of early modern theatre, using daylight instead of artificial lighting and live musicians playing period instruments from around 1600. Audiences in the open yard stand throughout the show, experiencing the action from up close, while those seated in the covered galleries watch from above.
The playhouse is open from spring through autumn, usually from April to October, and offers standing room in the yard as well as covered seats on the upper tiers. Performances take place in daylight, either in the afternoon or early evening, and may be interrupted or canceled if heavy rain occurs.
Performers work without microphones on a stage that extends deep into the audience, allowing eye contact and direct address to those gathered around. At certain moments in the show, actors move through the standing crowd in the yard, speaking to people at arm's length.
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