What Is a Groundling?
A groundling is a member of the audience who stands in the yard, the open area directly in front of and around three sides of the stage at Shakespeare's Globe. The term dates back to Shakespeare's own time, when the cheapest admission bought you a place to stand on the ground rather than a seat in the covered galleries above.
Today, groundling tickets remain the most affordable way to see a performance at the Globe. They are also the closest you can get to the stage. Groundlings stand at stage level, often within touching distance of the actors, which creates an intimate and energetic connection between performers and audience that seated theatres rarely achieve.
The Experience of Standing
Standing for an entire performance sounds demanding, and it can be. Shows at the Globe typically run for two and a half to three hours, including an interval. There are no seats, no backrests and no reserved spots. You choose where to stand when the yard opens, and you can move around during the performance.
Most regular groundlings recommend arriving early to secure a spot near the front of the stage, particularly at the centre. Leaning on the stage edge is generally tolerated and gives you something to rest against. Comfortable shoes are essential, and layers are wise because the yard is open to the sky.
Despite the physical challenge, many theatregoers consider standing the best way to experience the Globe. The energy in the yard is palpable. You are part of the performance in a way that sitting in the galleries does not quite replicate. Actors address the groundlings directly, make eye contact and use the audience as participants in the drama.
How It Compares to Sitting
The alternative to standing is a seat in one of the three tiers of covered galleries that surround the yard. Gallery seats are more expensive and come with a specific allocated position. They offer a roof over your head, a backrest and a broader view of the whole stage.
Seated audience members tend to have a more conventional theatre experience. Groundlings have a more visceral one. Neither is objectively better, but they are genuinely different ways of watching the same show.
Practical Considerations
The yard is open to the sky, so if it rains, you will get wet. Performances go ahead in all but the most extreme weather. You can bring a waterproof jacket, but umbrellas are not allowed because they block the view of other audience members.
There are no bags larger than a small rucksack permitted in the yard, and you cannot bring food or drink purchased outside the theatre. Water is essential on warm days, and the theatre sells drinks and snacks.
The yard holds around 700 standing audience members. On popular shows, groundling tickets sell out quickly, so booking in advance is recommended. If you are not sure about standing for the full performance, you can always leave the yard during the interval and watch the second half from the standing areas at the back of the galleries.
A Connection to History
Standing as a groundling at the Globe is the closest modern audiences can come to experiencing theatre as Shakespeare's original audience did. In the 1590s and 1600s, a penny bought you a place in the yard, where you stood among apprentices, tradespeople and other ordinary Londoners. The plays performed at the Globe were written for this audience as much as for the wealthier patrons in the galleries above.
