December 19

I’m a real Shakespeare fan. The Bard can do no wrong in my eyes! I love his work and am lucky that I grew up just a few miles from Stratford-upon-Avon and had plenty of opportunties to see his work performed. However, until September I had never visited Shakespeare’s Globe on Bankside in London. I know it’s not the real thing, but it is a replica of the original and is a wonderful place to visit. You just can’t help reciting a bit of Shakespeare as you walk around it!

I’d like to share with you today this excerpt from my book Tudor Places of Great Britain, some photos from my visit with the Discover the Tudors tour group, and a video about the Globe...

Shakespeare’s Globe

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Bankside, London, was built in 1987 by American director and actor, Sam Wanamaker. Wanamaker built it as a memorial to the original Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, William Shakespeare's playing company, and which sadly perished in a fire on 29th June 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII when a cannon misfired and set fire to the wooden beams and thatching. It was rebuilt in 1614 and Wanamaker used surviving records of the 1599 and 1614 buildings to build his theatre.

Visitors to Shakespeare's Globe today can enjoy its special exhibition, which makes use of traditional crafts and modern technology to bring the Elizabethan world of Shakespeare to life, and a tour of the theatre and auditorium. Visitors can also book to see Shakespeare's plays performed at the Globe, or plays by modern writers.

If you want to see a video of actors on stage, here's a great example: The Globe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9uDK3xsLYk.