Shakespeare's Globe, Open-air theatre in Southwark, England
Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstructed theatre on the south bank of the Thames in Southwark, featuring open-air seating, wooden galleries, and a thatched roof. The circular design follows Elizabethan stage layouts and holds a central yard for standing spectators.
The original playhouse opened in 1599 and burned down in 1613 after stage cannon sparks caught the thatch. The current replica opened in 1997 following decades of research and construction.
Performances here echo original stage conditions: plays run in daylight without artificial lights, and audiences stand in the yard or sit in covered galleries.
Guided tours run daily and cover the stage, dressing rooms, and rehearsal spaces. Theatre performances take place during warmer months, and standing room in the yard offers the most affordable way to attend a show.
The walls use oak beams joined only by wooden pegs, without metal nails or modern adhesives. The plaster contains goat hair as a binder, just as in the original Elizabethan construction.
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