Thesis Statement
The Globe Theater innovated Shakespeare’s career throughout its duration, origins and creations, productions and composers. Furthermore, its aftermath and impact changed entertainment for the people of London for generations, thanks to its unique structure and innovative performances.
Introduction
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater has witnessed popularity and perseverance for an extended period. Its history is approximately 400 years since the first one was built (Jamieson). Recycled timber from the Theatre in Shoreditch was used to construct the first structure of the playhouse. It was a three-story, open-air building estimated to be 100 feet in diameter with a capacity of about 3,000 audience members (Jamieson).
Origins and Creations of the Theater
Lord Chamberlain’s Men originally constructed the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare was part of this group as an actor since 1954, and in 1959, he bought shares equivalent to 12.5% of the total amount used to build the Globe (Gurr). This allowed him to become a co-owner of the company.
When the theatre was built, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and Rose playhouse, which was associated with the impresario and his ex-actor son-in-law, were the only two entities licensed to perform within London. Interestingly, both had only existed in London for five years. William Shakespeare, therefore, used this opportunity to establish a unique and successful commercial theater for actors at that time (Gurr). In addition, this investment enabled him and other leading performers to share the firm’s profits and the playhouse.
Shakespeare’s company’s inability to access a special roofed Blackfriars Theatre owned by James Burbage pushed the group to initiate the construction of the Globe (Globe Theatre). In 1976, James built an amphitheater called the “Theatre,“ and he followed thereafter by erecting Blackfriars immediately after its leasehold expired (Gurr). However, the residents of Blackfriars did not like the idea. They managed to convince the government to block the use of Blackfriars Theatre for acting, which frustrated the whole idea and investment. This catalyzed the need for Lord Chamberlain’s Men to have their playhouse, and in 1958, they resolved to build theirs (Gurr). Shakespeare and four other actors formed a consortium with James Burbage’s sons, Cuthbert and Richard, and they became the co-owners of the new Globe.
The theatre was named Globe after the figure Hercules, who was seen carrying the globe. In 1613, the first Globe Theatre caught fire and was burned to the ground (Forum-Theatre). A new one was rebuilt on the same site in June 1614 and used until 1642, when it was closed down (Forum-Theatre). Even though Shakespeare’s influence in the theatre was less when the second one was built in 1614, he wrote his greatest plays at the Globe (Forum-Theatre). Consequently, he used the amphitheater to showcase his talents for the next fourteen years. It exhibited excellent plays and was seen as the birthplace of modern drama.
The Many Productions and Creators
The Globe Theatre was successful because money was made from its exciting entertainment as audiences demanded more plays. Its design was magnificently based on the old Roman amphitheaters. The playwrights and great actors such as William Shakespeare and Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Edward Alleyn were superstars in great demand (Alchin). Shakespeare had several productions that were performed earlier at the theatre. These collections included Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony, and Cleopatra.
Shakespeare and his company started performing in the indoor Blackfriars playhouse alongside the Globe. In 1609, he produced one of his greatest plays, The Tempest (The Shakespeare Globe). However, for the original first Globe, he produced Julius Caesar first in 1599 (The Shakespeare Globe Trust). Later that same year, he wrote As You Like It and continued working on Hamlet. From this point in about 14 years, Shakespeare produced more plays, including Twelfth Night (The Shakespeare Globe Trust). Other playwrights who wrote for the Globe during this period were Ben Johnson, Thomas Middleton, and John Fletcher.
Some materials and subjects that formed the basis for acting at the Globe included Globe Theatre Costumes, Globe Theatre Props, Globe Theatre Special Effects, and Globe Theatre Female Roles (Alchin). Apart from William Shakespeare the Actor, other performers at the theatre were Robert Armin, Christopher Beeston, Henry Condell, Alexander Cooke, Richard Cowley, Nathan Field, and Lawrence Fletcher. John Heminges, William Kempe, John Lowin, William Ostler, Augustine Philips, William Rowley, William Sly, Richard Tarlton, Nicholas Tooley, Joseph Taylor, and Thomas Pope were equally involved in the plays (Alchin). This theatre was an excellent treatment for many people, and its popularity reached far and wide, from royalty to nobles and ordinary audiences.
The reputation of the early Elizabethan actors was not good, as they were seen as unruly and were not trusted. However, when the Globe was introduced, the performers improved their character and became superstars from the perspective of many audiences (Alchin). All Artists were required to act out their stunts, so they tried to incorporate sword-fighting skills, and they had to exaggerate most of the things in a way that would communicate and convince the viewers. In addition, because the turnover of plays was faster, they were expected to have a good memory of processes.
Furthermore, Globe Theatre produced 11 performances from 10 plays within two weeks (Alchin). This was necessary to beat the competition and attract a large audience. The content and scene were not explained to the actors until they got to the state. Essentially, this technique ensured zero rehearsal time, creating room for high turnover in new productions (Alchin). Their salaries varied with their positions in the theatre, with boys acting female roles earning less compared to the leading players.
The Aftermath and Impact of Globe Theatre
Globe was the brainchild of Shakespeare, conceived and funded by the company he owned. The aftermath of the theatre’s construction proved successful in many ways. Firstly, it became the favorite for many succeeding generations (Gurr). Secondly, its owners earned a lot of revenue and profits from several plays staged there immediately after it opened its doors. It had an effect and still shapes the knowledge and ideas of students who study his plays and the written texts on what they need to know when they act on his plays.
The rebuilt Globe rose in the 20th and 21st centuries. Its open design and traditional daylight productions gave modern viewers an exciting perspective of the quality craft of the older theater. More than 400 years after the first Globe was constructed, its blueprint has gained permanent status on the world stage (Gioia). Currently, most theatres that model Shakespeare’s Globe are attracting many audiences from all over the world.
Additionally, since its debut, an auditorium patterned on its old-school design has become a spectator’s magnet due to its dramatic perspective (Gioia). For example, a pop-up Globe is extremely popular in New Zealand. Another new open-air Globe is taking shape at the Festival theatre in Stratford, Connecticut (Gioia). Others with the same Globe layout are found in California, Texas, and Virginia, as well as in countries such as Japan, Germany, and Argentina.
The Globe Theatre allowed Shakespeare and other actors to stage an energetic and dramatic performance, which has had a massive impact worldwide. It became the benchmark for scholarly, critical practices, literary work, and acting studies in the 21st century (Worthen). The force of modern action requires an understanding of the traditional practices of a particular culture concerning the social and live or mediated shows that are now often implicated in one another. However, technological infusion allows for continuous changes in indoor theatres, the printing of plays, stage lighting, the proscenium, film, and digital media (Worthen).
The Shakespearean drama was filled with bear-baiting, sermons, and jigs, as well as theatre in a culture dominated by conversations. Today, that culture is integrated into a range of live and mediatized enactments, modes of exciting writing, and theatrical and nontheatrical performances that define what producers and actors think of Shakespeare (Worthen). Historically, contemporary theatre shows that Shakespearean style occupies present-day concerts’ classic, substance, and application.
Moreover, Shakespeare’s plays enable literature scholars to understand the misconceived aspect of dramatic performance. They were written as saleable commodities in a new mode of traditional and economic fabrication (Worthen). Thus, the plays at the Old Globe assisted in innovating institutions in which scripts are converted into various commodities and respond directly to oral culture. In the western world today, scripted drama is distinguished by the institution that conceived its meaning in terms of its textual form.
Conclusion
The Globe Theater shaped Shakespeare’s career through its history, design, productions, and collaborators. Moreover, its legacy transformed London’s entertainment scene for generations, owing to its distinctive architecture and groundbreaking performances. It was built by Chamberlain’s Men Company, where Shakespeare was a shareholder, and had the Burbage brothers, Cuthbert and Richard. The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1613 and was rebuilt in 1614.
Shakespeare and his group performed in the indoor Blackfriars playhouse alongside the Globe. Actors were expected to perform their stunts, and they exaggerated most things to attract the audience’s attention. Furthermore, the turnover of plays was faster to create room for more plays, and on average, the Globe Theatre produced about 11 presentations from 10 different plays within two weeks.
The aftermath of the theatre’s construction proved successful as it became the favorite of many succeeding viewers. Its approach to dramatic performance now serves as a standard for academic research, literary analysis, and the study of acting. Lastly, the Old Globe helped innovate institutions in which scripts respond to oral culture.
Works Cited
Alchin, Linda K. “Globe Theatre History.” The Globe Theatre, Bardstage, 2018, Web.
Forum-Theatre. The globe theatre: A place of great importance, Web.
Gioia, Joe. “Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre: An Elizabethan theatre brings thrills to modern audiences.” Magellan TV. Web.
Gurr, Andrew. “Globe Theatre“. Encyclopedia Britannica, Web.
Jamieson, Lee. “Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.” ThoughtCo. Web.
The Shakespeare Globe Trust. Globe Theatre, 2023, Web.
Worthen, William B. Shakespeare and the Force of Modern Performance. Cambridge University Press, 2003.