Opened in 1997 by director and actor Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare’s Globe gives audiences the opportunity to experience theatrical events in a way no other venue can replicate.
The building sits close to the site of the first Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599. Wanamaker wanted to match the dimensions, materials and playing conditions of the original as closely as possible and worked tirelessly for over 20 years to achieve his vision.
The Globe is constructed entirely from timber and natural materials, with a thatched roof – the first permitted in London since the Great Fire of 1666 – and thrust stage. Visitors can sit on benches or stand in the yard as “Groundlings” during the venue’s summer performance season. Over the winter months, visitors to Shakespeare’s Globe can enjoy candlelit performances at the indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Artistic Directors at the Globe include Academy Award winning actor Mark Rylance and theatre practitioner Emma Rice. Rice‘s tenure lasted just a few months; the board cited concerns over authenticity and the use of lighting technology in this decision.
The Globe Theatre programme includes Shakespeare’s plays and brand new writing. It has produced many hugely successful productions, including Morgan Lloyd-Malcom’s Emilia and Lucy Bailey’s notoriously gory staging of Titus Andronicus, which made headlines for the number of Groundlings fainting during its run.
