The Globe
Theater
The Globe
 I.
Opened in 1599
 II. Located on south
bank of Thames River
 III. Also called the
“Wooden O” --octagonal
shape similar to an O
 IV. Accommodated
about 3,000 people
The Globe
 V.
Groundlings
stood on 3 sides of
stage and paid a
penny admission.
 VI. Globe open to
the sky---actors and
patrons were
protected from
weather, but
groundlings were not
The Globe
 VII.
Minimal
scenery, natural
lighting, words
gave time of day
and often place of
scene
The Globe
 VIII.
Audiences
liked action,
duels, murders,
clowns, ghosts,
witches, noise,
puns, wit,
asides, music,
shouting
The Globe
 IX.


Length
A. Lasted about 2-21/2 hours
B. Usually began at noon or 2 P.M.
 X.
Scenes were over when there was a
change of tapestry or actors
The Globe
 XI.
No female actresses---Apprentice
actors (males) played female parts
 XII. Announcements of plays


A. Playbills were posted in the city
B. Flag was raised atop theater--different color flag for

different type of play.
The Globe
 XIII.

Techniques
A. Pun -- humorous play on words
indicating different meanings
 B. Metaphor -- comparison of two
things not using like or as
 C. Conceit -- whimsical,
extravagant,
fanciful ideas
The Globe
Techniques
 D.
Soliloquy -- device whereby the
actor on stage makes his feelings and
thoughts known by talking aloud to
himself and to the audience
 E. Aside -- device whereby actors say
something to the audience without the
other people on stage being able to
hear him
The Globe
 XIV.
Props
 A. Buy pigs’ bladders, fill with blood
(worn under tunic or costume).
Puncture bladder, blood spills out-audience loved this. Remember,
Shakespeare starts every play with a
fight
 B. Minimal furniture props
The Globe
 XV.
Miscellaneous
 A. Scenery usually
wasn’t relied on.
Relied on props and
language.
 B. Music - Elizabethans
loved music; the “ball”
was music portion of
Romeo and Juliet
The Globe
 C.
Costumes
 Used costumes of
Elizabethan era--leotards,
tunics, authentic to actor’s
times.
The Globe
D. Groundlings
 Paid 1 cent to get
in; no seats for
them; took own
lunches; would
often throw things
(banana peels)
at the actors.

The Globe
E. Women
 Theater was not the place to be seen
 Thought of as a place of sin
 Most did not go with the exception of
really rich and “ladies of the evening”
(who often practiced their profession in
the Pit where the groundlings were)

The Globe

F. Flags told that
a play was being
presented and
about to start.
Different colors
denoted different
types of plays-new play, tragedy,
history, comedy
The Globe
G. Everyone
went in front door
to the pit--1 cent
 Pay more to sit
under a covering
 Really rich sat in
boxes by
musicians
 Pay 6 cents to sit
in Lord’s Room

The Globe

H. Tiring House
– Area behind stage (green room)
– “Retire” -- rest, catch breath when not
acting; actors spoke lines very fast
– “Attire” -- place where actors changed
costumes
The Globe

I. Pit (also known as the Yard)
– Place where “groundlings” stood
– 1000 people could stand
– Became so smelly and hot that
groundlings were also nicknamed
– “stinkards”
– Shakespeare works hard to appeal to
groundlings
The Globe

J. Hell
– Under the platform
– Also used for storage

K. Turret
– Named because of shape--top of
castle; round room
– Storage for props and sometimes
cannons for war plays
The Globe