The Globe Theatre
For those with literary or Elizabethan interest, be sure not to miss The Globe Theatre. The original theatre first built in 1599 was the headquarters of a company of players for which William Shakespeare wrote with many of his plays being first performed here. Unfortunately this theatre burnt down in 1613, when during a performance of Henry VIII, a spark from a cannon set fire to the roof. Despite the globe being rebuilt the following year, it was closed by the Puritans in 1642 and demolished two years later. Thanks to the actor-director Sam Wannamaker, a reconstructed version was completed in 1997, almost on the exact site as the original. The Globe consists of the theatre, a pub, an exhibition hall and an indoor theatre. Building materials used are as close to the original as possible ensuring an authentic experience. The roof is thatched using Norfolk reed, the timber frame is made of green oak and the walls of lime plaster. Productions are held in the Globe from May to September. To conform to Elizabethan theatre practices, the plays rely on natural light and a simple unchanging set. To try and recreate the rowdy, hard-to-please crowds of Tudor times, audience participation is encouraged. In the exhibition space, visitors can explore all aspects of Shakespeare's work in a multimedia display. The Globe also has a gift-shop and café where lunchtime events include jazz, poetry and Elizabethan music recitals.
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