The Globe Theatre

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The Globe Theatre The Globe theatre was a theatre originally built in 1599, on the south bank of the river Thames. It held about 3,000 people (includes standing at seating). It’s one of several theatres that were built in the area: The Swan, The Rose and The Hope where of rivals to The Globe. Many of Shakespeare’s post-1599 plays where staged at The Globe theatre; including Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear and Hamlet. The actual lay out and dimension of the Globe are unknown. Its shape and size can be approximated by research over the last two centuries. The evidence suggests that it was a three-storey, open-air amphitheater about 100 feet in diameter that could hold 3,000 spectators. A sketch of the Globe shows it as a round building, however in 1989 uncovering of the Globe’s foundation suggested that it was a polygon of 20 sides. The Globe was owned by actors; who where also shareholders in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. (“The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” was a playing company of actors who performed in the plays but also management. William Shakespeare wrote for this company for most of his career.) Two of the shareholders were Richard Burbage and Cuthbert Burbage who both held 25% of the shares each. William Shakespeare was also a shareholder, holding 12.5% of shares. These shares changed over time as more shares were added. The theatre was built in 1599 using wood from an earlier theatre that had been built by Richard Burbage’s father. They originally had the site on lease for 20 years on which the theatre was built, then when the lease ended they dismantled The Theatre beam by beam and moved it to the Thames side to reconstruct it as The Globe. Only 14 years later the Globe went up in flames on June 29, 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. A theatrical cannon set off during the show, but misfired igniting the wooden beams and caught
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