Shakespeare and Elizabethan entertainment

 Thursday 2/20/2025

Today we headed out to the reconstruction of the Globe Theatre which everyone associates with Shakespeare.  Theaters really took off in London during the Elizabethan days, 1558-1603.  Shakespeare came to London in 1582.  Other entertainments at the time for the working class were dogfights and cockfighting as well as boardgames like chess and backgammon, because it was cheap.   The wealthy enjoyed dancing, banquets, masques and any sort of tournaments.   At the theatre the rich and poor alike combined.  

Shakespeare came to London in 1582, but there is really not a lot known about the original Globe theater.  It is thought that it started to be built in 1587, but they know for sure it was open in 1599 since there is a recorded performance of Julius Caesar.  The original Globe Theatre only stood for 14 years before it was torn down.  It was rebuilt and stood for another 28 years, then torn down and made room for other buildings.  The original building stood about 300 years inland from the reconstructed one.  

Talking of the recreation, it is the best guess that they have for as to how it looked. There is a painting of the whole town at the time which shows it in the background, so they have that to go on for some of the outside, then they used the geometry of the time to figure out the rest.  I believe we were told that there was also part of the foundation found that helped them. The current thatched roof is the only one in London as it is illegal to build with a thatched roof.   They are not totally positive there was a thatched roof since it was made illegal in 1212 to have exposed timbers, but there is a diary mention of the thatched roof.  With the reconstruction, they also used the materials of the time - for example, wooden pegs instead of screws.  So, after all that, this may or may not be what the Globe looked like.  

As for lighting, there is none, so all plays take place during the day.  In the winter at 2, in the summer at 4.  They suspect that was taken into account when plays were written since many start in a daytime setting and often end in a nighttime setting.  

This current rendition of the Globe Theatre opened in 1996, after many years of campaigning by an American Sam Wanamaker.  While we were there, they were working on the stage to get it ready for a March opening of a showing of Macbeth.  There is not a set troupe of actors at the Globe, so they come and go with productions.  They don’t use microphones and put on the play no matter what the weather is. 

Since 2022, they wear modern dress because that is hat is what they did in Shakespeare day.  But we were also told that period dress is just too expensive to recreate. 

Here are the different angles of the stage and the stands.  Mostly the lower class and poor people packed onto the floor to watch, currently they fit 700 all just standing, there are records from the original Globe that said 1000 stood on the floor for performances in all kinds of weather.  We were also told that they still perform in all weather, it it rains, they get wet, no umbrellas are allowed!  

The box seats, to the far right of the stands and just next to the stage (also in the last picture in a closeup) was where the nobility sat and there are records that lords would actually be on the stage on the balcony.  Women did not attend plays in Shakespeare times.  

This final picture is one of the surviving complete works of Shakespeare, they had it in the lobby. 

After the Globe, we walked along the Thames River on a beautiful river walk.  This is the only picture of the river I took, but the walk takes you along the river and has lots of bars and shopping, but also ducks away from the river and you see street art and old rediscovered buildings.  Apparently it goes on for miles 

In the picture below, this wall and some surrounding foundation stones were found after a fire in the 1800’s.  It is part of the great hall of the Old Winchester Palace from the 12th century.  It was the London townhouse for the Bishops of Winchester. 

Next up on the agenda,  we went to a food market called The Borough Market.   The Borough Market began as a trading hub on the south bank of the Thames.  In 1014, the first records mention the market in Southwark.  This area was outside London’s walls, known for its lively atmosphere and looser rules.  The market grew up alongside the London Bridge.  It was a crazy packed place full of all sorts of foods, both ready made and not.  

Finally, I thought I would end the day trying to see if I like Shakespeare after all, especially if the cast is good looking.  So I went to see Richard II at “ The Bridge Theatre “ .  Jonathan Bailey is one of my favorite actors and he was Richard II.  I’m sorry to say, but good looks didn’t help me like Shakespeare any better, but it was an experience! 

After the play, hopped on the tube like an old pro and headed back to the hotel!   One more day…….