The magic of Shakespeare's Globe
Katherine HIlls reflects on the school's visit to Shakespeare's Globe, on London's South Bank
On a recent visit to the Globe Theatre in London, we were lucky enough to experience the timeless magic of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Not only were we captured by the charismatic acting and sophisticated yet humorous dialogue but the establishment itself was also a wonder to behold. The exquisite attention to detail in the late 1990s' reconstruction transports you back in time to the Shakespearean age.
The Globe Theatre in London is a rebuild of the previous theatre which tragically caught fire during a performance of All is True, better known as Henry VIII to modern audiences. In 1997, an exact replica of the theatre was constructed bringing the magic of Shakespeare and his iconic plays’ enchantment back to life for contemporary audiences. However, the rebuild of the Globe was easier said than done. As a result of the Great Fire of London in 1666, special planning permission had to be granted in order for the theatre to have a thatched roof like the original Globe. Thankfully, the permission was granted and the theatre was able to possess all the critical features to make it an identical twin to its predecessor.
Due to it being an exact copy of the original, the experience you have now while watching the plays is reflective of the experience people would have had back in Shakespeare’s time. The pit by the edge of the stage holds the ‘groundlings’ and is still very much in use. This provides spectators with the unique and interactive experience that would have been the same in the 17th century for lower class citizens - minus the launching of rotten tomatoes at the actors. The seating is also reserved for people willing to pay a bit extra for added comfort but if you really want to grasp that authentic and unforgettable experience, the ‘groundlings’ standing section is the way to go.
The acting was incredible. The true nature of Shakespeare and the comic storyline in one of his most well known plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was preserved by the Globe's players spectacularly but modern twists at points kept the audience entertained and engaged. Despite the language being occasionally difficult to understand, the power of the acting meant that it was easy to follow along and laugh at the cleverly placed humour.
Katherine Hills, Year 12