The Globe Theatres
By Maria Duijndam
The Globe Theatre in 1599
In 1599 the Globe theatre could fit around 3,000 people inside it at once. Both the poor and the wealthy enjoyed watching the plays be performed. The cost was quite low, which explains why they had between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors per week.
The audience was vital to the plays as they often expressed what they thought of the play. In 1602, the audience really outdid themselves; they damaged chairs, walls and curtains because the play wasn't to their liking. Actors used humor, violence and music to keep the people entertained and not lose their attention.
The Globe in 1999
Today, the Globe welcomes visitors from all over the world. They're welcomed to take part in workshops and lectures, to visit the exhibition, to tour the theatre, and watch productions of plays. The newly reconstructed Globe can fit 1,500 people in it at a time, which is half the amount that the demolished Globe could.
The Globe theatre was originally built on the south side of the river Thames but was destroyed by a fire in 1613. They reconstructed it once more and finished in 1614, but closed it in 1642. Centuries later, in 1989, foundations of the Globe were found and people took an interest. Sam Wanamaker decided he wanted to rebuild the theatre. The modern reconstruction of the Globe theatre began, and it finally opened again in 1997.