The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: April twenty-fourth, with a look at Shakespeare's new Globe, on the 437th anniversary of his birth.

Modern theater roots lie in Elizabethan England, a time when actors altered religious pageants to convey earthy values. At first these troupes performed in taverns, but soon began building "playhouses" of their own. The first, the Theatre, went up in 1576, followed by the Curtain, Rose and the Globe. The later's fame soared, on the talents of resident actor Richard Burbage and playwright William Shakespeare.

While not entirely accurate, the movie "Shakespeare in Love" did catch the flavor of those early theaters. The original Globe was an open courtyard encircled by a three-story, wooden "frame", a wall that supported both stage and seating. Wealthy patrons sat in gallery boxes; plain folks, known as groundlings, stood in the yard, the open area in front of the stage.

Though exciting places, these theaters also had a tendency to go up in flames, as did the Globe in 1613. Many attempts have been made to re-capture its ambiance. The most successful opened four years ago on the Thames' south bank, near the original site. Based on actual drawings and excavations, the new Globe has become a great venue for all things Shakespeare, with a museum and workshops.

More significantly, it features an annual repertoire of plays performed by top actors in the manner of the Bard. This season, which runs from May through September, features the Celtic plays, Lear, MacBeth and Cymbeline. Inexpensive reserved seats sell quickly, but standing room's often available on a walk-up basis. Shakespeare at the Globe, a unique and highly edifying experience for any theatrically inclined London traveler.

FMI The Globe Theater at www.shakespeares-globe.org

Back to April 2003 Main

Look through the list of fascinating places and off-beat features we’ve covered. Search text versions of past episodes and articles in our archives.