A Look at the History of the Globe Theater

Over the course of literary and theatrical history, one of the most well-known theatre troupes made their home at the famous Globe Theatre in London in Great Britain. The original theatre was founded in 1599 by William Shakespeare’s theatre company, Lord’s Chamberlains Men. Shakespeare was the part-owner and leading playwright of the company, and the Globe Theatre hosted many of his renowned plays. The theater held approximately 3,000 people, and seating areas were based on social class. Wealthy nobles sat in covered galleries, and common people, also referred to as “groundlings” stood in the pit. At this time, theater was a community event; nobody was home watching a recording of a stage performance, comfortable in their leather recliner. Instead, people gathered and enjoyed theater productions together, an experience that is very unlike the isolated viewership that a theater-style couch in a media room might facilitate.

Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the Globe Theatre in 1613, when, during a performance of Henry VIII, a cannon on the stage ignited the thatched roof of the theater. The wooden building was quickly engulfed. Thankfully, there were no fatalities. The fire necessitated the building of a new Globe Theatre. It was quickly built and opened in 1614 on the site of the original theatre. This time, it was built with a tile roof.  The new theatre was eventually closed in 1642, when Puritans ordered that all the theaters in London be closed. The theater was ultimately demolished in 1644.

Today, the modern reconstruction of the Globe Theatre stands near the original site in London and serves as a working theater and a historical tribute to William Shakespeare’s great theatrical works. The reconstruction, led by actor and director Sam Wanamaker, was completed in the late 1990s and served to memorialize the original theater and revive appreciation for Shakespeare’s great plays. Historically accurate reconstruction was made possible through diligent research, historical records, drawings, and evidence uncovered from excavations. The theater seats approximately 1,570 people, about half the capacity of the original Globe Theatre, to comply with safety code enforcement and guest comfort. But theater-goers should not expect to be too awfully comfortable. Instead of the luxury theater seating or the plush home movie theater sectionals they might be used to, guests are offered theater seating in a covered gallery with wooden benches or standing room in the pit, just as was the case for guests of the original theater.

To learn more about Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre, and home theater seating, we have assembled a variety of helpful resources. We hope you enjoy learning more about the home theater of Shakespeare, one of the most famous figures in literature.