- Home
- Attractions
- Shakespeare's Globe
Shakespeare's Globe
Authentic recreation of Shakespeare's original theater with groundlings and open-air performances April-October.
About
This faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare's 1599 playhouse brings Elizabethan theatre roaring back to life on Bankside. Open-air performances under sun and rain recreate original conditions—groundlings standing for £5, wooden galleries creaking, actors addressing audiences directly in shared daylight.
Authentic Theatre Experience
The "wooden O" holds 1,570 spectators in three tiers around the thrust stage. No microphones, minimal sets, and elaborate costumes focus attention on language and performance. Groundlings stand throughout (bring comfortable shoes!), heckling encouraged, while gallery seats offer backrests and weather protection.
April-October seasons feature Shakespeare's classics alongside contemporary works. Original staging practices include all-male casts, live music, and jigs. The candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse next door stages year-round intimate Jacobean productions.
Beyond Performance
Exhibition explores Shakespeare's London through interactive displays and rare manuscripts. Tours reveal construction secrets using Tudor techniques—oak beams, lime plaster, Norfolk reed thatch (London's only permitted since 1666). Workshops teach stage combat and Shakespearean insults.
Book groundling tickets for authentic atmosphere (no seats!). Dress for weather—performances continue in rain. Swan restaurant offers pre-theatre dining overlooking Thames. Southwark or London Bridge stations nearby. Whether Shakespeare devotee or curious newcomer, the Globe delivers theatre as event, not just entertainment.