While in London, we were determined to see a production at The Globe Theater.  The Globe is the theater where William Shakespeare staged his plays during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  Though the current structure is not the original building where The King’s Men portrayed Shakespeare’s characters (it’s actually the third incarnation of The Globe: the first one burned and the second one was closed by the Puritans) it stands a few blocks away from the original theater’s Bankside location.  Currently, its location near the London Eye makes it convenient to the restaurants and sites along the River Thames.

The Globe emphasizes historical accuracy in all aspects of its productions.  The builders and architects adhered to original building materials and techniques when reconstructing The Globe, which means lots of British Oak, lots of wooden pegs holding it all together, and the only thatch roof in the city of London.  Staff members take great pains to maintain historically-accurate play conditions: the theater is open-air, productions occur rain or shine, plays either occur during the day or under full light to maintain sixteenth century conditions, and there is no use of artificial amplification.  This dedication to historical accuracy is vital to faithfully representing Shakespeare’s work, and it helps create a unique atmosphere inside the playhouse itself.  In addition to staging Shakespearean productions, the Globe and the accompanying Sam Wannamaker Playhouse present contemporary work.

Early in the day, we took a guided tour of the theater.  Prior to the tour, we waited in the museum, which contained a huge number of artifacts, facsimiles, waysides, videos, and models about the theater and the productions that were very informative and acted as a good primer for the tour.  Later, an employee gave us a great deal of information about the theater before bringing us to the first gallery to watch the actors rehearse that night’s play, Richard II.  We watched rehearsal for approximately 20 minutes, and it offered a fascinating glimpse into the process of working actors preparing for a performance.  Because it was an active rehearsal, the staff asked that we not take photographs of the theater while the actors were onstage, though we could photograph anything we wanted when there was no one was actively performing.

That evening, we viewed the performance of Richard II from the upper balcony (click here for a full text of the play).  As advertised, the play went on through the light rain and was conducted in a fully-lit theater without amplification.  The entire stage was very open with a minimal number of props, many of which were easily wheeled on and offstage or brought up through the trap door in the center of the floor.  It was very easy to see and hear everything on-stage.  At several points in the play where band members and actors either performed from the audience or included the audience as extras in the play, and performing from these alternate locations.  Moving the action around the theater was also a nice touch that engaged the people in a unique way.  The actors were obviously very accomplished, and they brought the play alive in ways that showed the humor and the tragedy of the situation.

The Globe is a fantastic site for fans of Shakespeare or people interested in London’s history.