The New Globe Theatre
The Globe Theater is one of the famous theatres in London. Although there were various theatres where actors could perform, restrictions imposed around the time it was operating made it difficult for plays similar to the ones by Shakespeare to be hosted. Shakespeare had been working with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and even contributed some money towards the construction of the globe. His contribution was used to construct the theatre and this made him a chief shareholder in the company. Through the theatre, Shakespeare and other actors a platform to showcase their work and make profits and also ensured that Shakespeare benefited from the company profits. Being a first of its kind, Shakespeare and others in the globe’s management team had to overcome various challenges. Although the Globe Theatre’s history is full of challenges and occurrences that threatened to bring its operations to an end, the effort and determination put by the management to keep the theatre running is an indication of how far hard work and commitment can take those who refuse to give up.
The major reason behind the decision to build the Globe Theatre was because Shakespeare’s company and other actors could not showcase their work in the special theatres built within the city. The theatres had special features such as roofed facilities and other amenities that made performing there better than any other theater (Gurr, 2019. An example of this is the first amphitheater that was successful in the city and was referred to as The Theatre. When the lease for the land that the theatre was built on was about to expire, a new theatre was built in Blackfriars and it served as its replacement (Gurr, 2019). The restriction on who could perform in the theatre came as a result of requests made by the wealthy class in Blackfriars to restrict access to specific people.
From its origin story, the Globe Theatre has been a symbol of triumph and achievements made through commitment and sacrifice. Restricting access to some actors and denying others, especially in theatres located within the city put placed those locked out at a disadvantage (Fogg, 2016). Performers relying on their art to earn a living had to struggle to find a theatre to showcase their work. Even when one was available, the location was often remote and could not offer the same opportunities offered to those who could showcase their work in theatres located in city centers. In addition, the artists got more exposure and could therefore benefit more from their work.
The theatre stood as a representation of the impact that society and its ideologies had on people both direct and indirectly. The wealthy in society had managed to build theatres that were used to suit their interests more than to entertain. They therefore blocked entry to some plays and in so doing, limited the amount of exposure that society got. This made it easier for them to maintain their control and power as there was little that could be done to overthrow them (Dutton, 2018). The Globe Theater however sought a different approach. It was a theatre built by people in the industry of acting and therefore understood more the hardships that actors had to endure. It stood as an icon of what commitment can achieve. Instead of giving up on plays and acting, Lord Chamberlain’s Men decided to beat the odds and start up their own theatre (Fogg, 2016). Once finished, the style of management, popularity among actors and the audience and the determination to fulfill their objective made it possible to not only build a theatre, but show actors that any challenge can be overcome.
In 1598, Lord Chamberlain’s Men decided to bring about change and decided to build a theatre of their own (Dutton, 2018). Their project encountered great obstacles even in the initial stages. Two of the people contributing funds for opening the new theatre was held up. These were Cuthbert and Richard whose money was inaccessible due to the issue with the Blackfriar’s. this pushed Lord Chamberlain’s Men to approach Shakespeare and four more actors who would become co-owners once the theatre was complete (Forward & Wijngaard, 2005). The management also had to change their original plan to build an indoor theatre in the city and instead took on a more traditional approach. Since the old playhouse was the major asset owned by Lord Chamberlain’s Men, they decided to dismantle and steal some of the timber to build the skeleton for the new building.
The challenges faced when trying to source funds to start the Globe Theatre did little to affect its performance. The first decade of operation saw the theatre become a favorite for theatre goers and performers alike. In 1608, the company had enough following to create demand for the theatre and construct it using the initial plans (Forward & Wijngaard, 2005). The theatre was able to construct the open air globe style and it was commonly used in the summer while the roofed globe operated during the winter. The management was not only able to overcome the constraints during the initial phase, they also managed to create something that was in great demand in society during that time.
Success for the Globe Theatre has usually been followed by major catastrophe’s, some of which led to the destruction of the theatre. An example of this is when the theatre burnt down in flames after an accident involving a cannon set the thatch on fire, burning down the theatre. The accident occurred when the theatre was still popular and was doing rather well (Robson, 2014). It was also the time when the Blackfriars had become more popular and was doing better than the Globe Theatre. The increase in profit was however as a result of the high prices charged to customers despite it being relatively smaller. The decision to hike prices in order to make more profits was common as businesses were more interested in making profits. Unlike the Lord Chamberlain’s men who sought to create an ideal environment for plays, organizations often exploited the people in an attempt to meet their objectives (Fogg, 2016). Hiked prices were therefore common and theatres like Blackfrair could rely on their popularity to influence prices. The Globe Theatre was however different as it was more concerned with providing a platform for actors to showcase their work. Instead of hiking prices, members of the company decided to contribute money from their personal savings to keep the theatre operational.
The Globe Theater also set the standards when it came to determining the theatre designs, some of which are still used today. The first design for the globe was built using designs borrowed from the original theatre that existed in its location in 1576 (Gurr, 2019). The new theatre was unique because it was the first theatre built specifically to meet the needs of an existing company owned by the people in charge of building the new theatre. The arrangement of props and other tools needed for the plays gave an experience that was different from other theatres, and sometimes even better (Gurr, 2019). Plays for instance were conducted in the afternoons to take advantage of daylight as it made actions on stage easier to see as well as setting the mood. It also made it possible for the audience to sit round the stage instead of just in front and this allowed for a bigger audience.
The New Globe Theatre also borrows from the design used by the other theatres reconstructed. The size, shape and decorations borrow from the old design and while there are slight differences, the theatre bears close resemblance to others put up in its place. Various changes have however been introducing as a result of the various changes in society (Dutton, 2018). The doorway and staircases for instance were built a little bit bigger to meet the requirements of fire and safety regulations. The number of entrances leading into the yard were also increased, conduits for electric wiring were introduced and sprinklers were added to the theatre to help in the case of a fire.
The changes are also as a result of the blueprint that the builders were working on. When the foundation for the globe were discovered in 1989 after the globe was destroyed. The reconstruction of the New Globe Theatre gained momentum in 1970 when Sam Wanamaker started the globe play-house trust to help fund rebuilding the globe. Reconstructing the theatre was a fulfillment of his longtime desire as it was a symbol of inspiration to him. The thirty_five year old Ukranian however faced a lot of challenges among which was lack of resources. A lot of capital was needed to fund the project and pay researchers to identify the exact location and details on the previous theatre. However, only part of the theatre foundation was retrieved and this forced the builders to improvise (Gurr, 2019). The planned sides for the globe for instance were changed from the intended 24 to 20 and the polygon was erected to 30 meters (Gurr, 2019). Architects and scholars examined old buildings of a similar structure to come up with ideas on the nature of the structure, what style to use, the interior type and the appropriate roofing. The Globe Theatre is a representation of the power than an idea can have throughout history. Partial remnants of a foundation made it possible for architects to rebuild something that had long been thought forgotten (Forward & Wijngaard, 2005). Similarly, drama and plays can trigger the same effect on the audience and Shakespeare and his team wanted to ensure that this power retained with the people, not a select few who were more focused on personal gain that the growth of stage acting.
An argument can be made that the decision to reconstruct the new Globe Theatre as a replica of the old one is as a way of paying tribute to Shakespeare and teach others important lessons through his plays. The Globe was built by Lord Chamberlain’s men, Shakespeare and a few actors. The globe was therefore designed and intended to offer a platform where the actors could reach their audience through plays for various purposes such as entertaining and informing the public (Robson, 2014). Reconstructing it in the same way acts as a reminder to anyone who is keen enough to want to learn about its history as this will eventually lead to information about the people who built the globe originally, the type of plays that were hosted there, and what the theatre generally stood for (Robson, 2014). Even with all the challenges throughout its history, the globe retains its influence and commands a following as it still stands as a representation of hard work and devotion. The various occurrences where the theatre was brought down, burnt to ashes are a testament of how something can rise up to become relevant even after its destruction.
The New Globe Theatre is a perfect example of how far something as small as an idea can go when backed by perseverance and hard work. The installation of sprinklers for instance is an improvement as a lesson learnt from previous mistakes when the theatre broke down. Borrowing the original design and incorporating new features adds on to this state of progress and evolution. The old design can be seen as a symbolic gesture to appreciate all the efforts made in the past to give actors a place to showcase their work. Retaining it can be interpreted as an indication of the theatre retaining the policies and principles that were sought after when Shakespeare and Lord Chamberlain’s men. The addition of new features is therefore an indication of the ovulation of stage acting and theatre. While the acts of people like Shakespeare created the foundation where drama and stage theatre is built on, contributions from other actors is relevant even today. The act of building and rebuilding the new globe theatre is therefore an example of all the effort that has been put in place to bring drama and stage theatre to the point it is at today.
References
Dutton, R. (2018). Shakespeare's theatre: A history. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Fogg, N. (2016). The Globe: Shakespeare's London theatre. Stroud: Amberley.
Forward, T., & Wijngaard, J. (2005). Shakespeare's Globe: An interactive pop-up theatre. Cambridge (Mass.: Candlewick Press.
Gurr A, (2019) “Globe Theatre” Encyclopedia Britannica, retrieved from, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Globe-Theatre/The-design-of-the-Globe
Robson, D. (2014). Shakespeare's Globe Theater. Reference Point Press
