Shakespeare's Globe Theater is a "must see" attraction. It is a very unique place. It combines The Globe Theatre Company, that holds open-air performances, and Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition, which provides historical information about the theater. We were only able to visit the exhibition which provided an engaging and informed introduction to the theater of Shakespeare's time, and the London in which he lived and worked. The guide will tell you about the construction of the building that was based closely on historical documents that describe the Globe of Shakespeare's time. You will also learn about the roles of actors, musicians, and audience members in this unique theater. The Exhibition and guided tour of the theater are open daily. Performances are held only from May to September. Check the website for a schedule of performances at Shakespeare's-globe.org. My dream is to actually see a performance at this theater. We'll have to schedule our next trip during the theater season!

We had a guided tour of the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which we wouldn’t have missed for the world. That the theatre is here at all is all down to Sam Wanamaker, an aspiring actor. He worked for 20 years until his death to raise funds to re-create the theatre. Finally, in 1997, a replica of the theatre built in 1599 but burnt down in 1613 opened in Bankside as close to the original site as possible. Shakespeare chose this area because it was outside the jurisdiction and controls of London.
The Theatre is now a centre for the study of the great bard and a celebration of his life and works. Craftsmen used the material and techniques used in building the original in Elizabethan times. The green oak timbers provide a link back to Shakespeare's time, as some were then saplings. Only joints cut into the timber and wooden pegs hold them together. Lime, sand, and goat's hair plaster face up the walls and the roof is thatched.

The new Globe isn't an exact replica, seating 1,500 on wooden benches in the ‘bays’ with 500 ‘groundlings’ standing and not the 3,000 who originally squeezed in. Its thatched roof treated with a fire retardant won’t catch fire. A spark from a cannon fired during a performance ignited the thatch on the original and burned the theatre to the ground. A boy curious about the spikes now arranged along the roof of the building wondered if they were for the heads of actors who forgot their lines as he had seen spikes at the Tower of London formerly used for mounting severed heads. The Globe spikes are more mundane being water sprinklers!

The open-air Globe Theatre offers performances only during the summer season from mid-May to mid-September. Performances take place at 2pm as in the original theatre but with flood lighting added can now take also place in the evenings. As in Shakespeare's day the ‘groundlings’ surround the stage and can make their feelings about the performance crystal clear to the actors. With few props or furniture and no theatrical lighting or scenery, clothes are the Globe’s chief visual effect. These have to withstand the closest scrutiny from the audience.

The Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition housed in the Under Globe offers a comprehensive coverage of the Elizabethan theatre construction and its dramas. On display are clothes such as those worn in The Tempest. Other exhibits give a glimpse of the many crafts used in making the actors clothes and in cleaning and preserving them. Also there are occasional displays and workshops, some aimed at children.

When we visited a fair to commemorate the Great Frost Fair of 1621 held on the frozen waters of the Thames close to the Globe was in progress. A miniature of the actual 1621 Fair itself showed how it must have looked.

OPEN: Exhibition and viewing daily 10am-5pm. Tube: Mansion House, then walk across the Millennium Bridge.

It's truly amazing being in the Globe Theatre. Even though it's not the original because of all the wars, they built it exactly how you've always dreamed it to be. There's an open roof, and they have such great marble on the stage. The acting is fantastic. Even though you have to stand for a couple of hours, I suggest you buy the cheap tickets and be right next to the stage to experience Shakespeare right up close! It's a must!!

I have sat just about everywhere you can imagine in this theater, from the groundling seats, which aren't seats at all, but permission to stand and take in the theater up close, all the way up to the Lord's Box, where you actually sit in the canopy above the stage with the orchestra and, at times, some of the actors.

While it was exciting to be whisked away to the Lord’s box, there is truly only one way to go: standing. The view is authentic, fun, and truly captivating. You are drawn in to the show in a way that is hard to experience anywhere else in the theater. Take advantage of the cheap prices and experience the drama up close--the way it’s meant to be seen.

I went when it first opened. I was a groundling and it was so much fun. I'm short and I still found a good place to stand. The performance in the photo was the beginning of Henry V. Mark Rylance was in the starring role and his performance was superb. Unless you have physical impediments, I suggest being a groundling. If you want to sit and be away from the action, go to the National Theatre or the Swann Theatre. The only problem you'd have is if you bought your tickets in advance and it rains--because the play goes on! So buy it when you get there.