Shakespeare's Globe

Overview

Shakespeare's Globe is an incredibly faithful, atmospheric wooden reconstruction of the original 1599 open-air playhouse where William Shakespeare wrote, premiered, and physically directed his greatest, most globally defining plays.

Highlights

• The Wooden O: The atmospheric, open-air polygonal timber theater featuring the spectacularly painted ceiling over the stage, famously known as "The Heavens."
• Groundling Standing: The authentic, notably raw experience of forcefully standing tightly packed right against the elevated stage as a "groundling" for the incredibly cheap price of £5.
• The Exhibition: The detailed, intimately fascinating museum thoroughly explaining the rowdy, smelly, entertaining world of violent Elizabethan theater.

History

The brilliant, obsessed American actor Sam Wanamaker actively spent 20 agonizing, dedicated years fighting to forcefully reconstruct the vanished theater. Following incredibly strict, utterly rigid historical building methods (including London's first permitted thatched roof since the devastating Great Fire), the spectacular theater finally officially opened in 1997.

Visitor Tips

• Performances: The, best way to truly experience the building is attending a live performance; the interactive, incredibly energetic connection strictly between the roaring audience and the shouting actors is electric.
• Weather: It is open to the notably unpredictable, famously fierce London rain; standing groundlings must bring raincoats (umbrellas are strictly, banned during plays).