The Globe Theatre
Make sure you are standing at position (17) on the map.
Shakespeare’s Globe - the new Globe theatre.
Shakespeare'sGlobe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre. The modern reconstruction is an approximation based on available evidence of the original buildings. It was founded by the actor and director Sam Wanamaker and opened to the public in 1997, with a production of HenryV.
This site also includes the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, an indoor theatre which opened in January 2014. This is a smaller, candle-lit theatre based on the indoor playhouses of Jacobean London like The Blackfriars Theatre.
There are toilets and a cafe in Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Now walk down New Globe Walk, then left into Park Street. Walk up to the site of the Rose Theatre on the left of the road (18 on the map).
Shakespeare’s Globe - the new Globe theatre.
There are toilets and a cafe in Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Now walk down New Globe Walk, then left into Park Street. Walk up to the site of the Rose Theatre on the left of the road (18 on the map).
The Rose theatre
This street was called Maiden Lane in Shakespeare's day. The whole area was full of entertainments. Theatres, bull, bear and cock fighting rings, and lots of brothels. Prostitutes were called 'Winchester Geese' named after the Bishop of Winchester who had a palace near here (ruins still exist. These entertainments grew up around here as the area was a 'Liberty' (Liberty of the Clink) which was outside the control of the City of London.
The Rose was built in 1587, twelve years before the Globe, and the first theatre to be built on Bankside. The Rose Theatre was recently excavated and still puts on plays in a space next to the old theatre remains under the building.
The Rose was built in 1587, twelve years before the Globe, and the first theatre to be built on Bankside. The Rose Theatre was recently excavated and still puts on plays in a space next to the old theatre remains under the building.
Walk further down Park Street until you reach the site of the original Globe theatre , on the right (19 on the map).
The site of the original Globe Theatre
The site of the original Globe Theatre
The original Globe Theatre was opened here in 1599. Park Street was then called Maiden Lane which was in The Liberty of the Clink, an area outside of the control of the City and the Surrey County Sheriff. The area was actually under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester who taxed the theatres, animal baiting rings and brothels that thrived here rather than ban them.
There were two theatres called the Globe on this site. The first was burned down in 1613 after a performance of Henry VIII. The fire was caused by a theatrical cannon. It was re-built the following year.
Shakespeare died in 1616, but the Globe continued until 1642 when, along with all other theatres in the country, it was closed down by the Puritans at the start of the English Civil War.
It is not known why the Globe was so called. However, Drake had returned after his circumnavigation of the globe in 1581 but details were withheld as a state secret. This was because England was trying to keep an uneasy peace with Spain over “New Albion”. An adapted (and idealised) account of the voyage was finally published in 1589*. This would have been a great source of national pride and excitement and would make “The Globe” a good name for this new theatre. .
*A more realistic account was not published until 1628 after both Elizabeth's and Drake’s deaths.
That is the end of the walk. I hope that you enjoyed it. If you need refreshment or the toilet, there are lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs around here. Ones that I recommend are
That is the end of the walk. I hope that you enjoyed it. If you need refreshment or the toilet, there are lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs around here. Ones that I recommend are
- The Globe back in New Globe Walk for a coffee and the toilet.
- The George in Borough High Street for a drink. Although a bit later than WS, this gives you an idea of what an innyard which hosted plays in his lifetime looked like.
- The Royal Oak in Tabard Street is a bit of a walk, but it does hearty pub fare, great Harveys beer, and is generally not crowded as the George tends to be.
Let me know how you got on by sending me a message.
