AT THE GLOBE THEATER (PART---II)

Plan of the Globe Theater

Inside View

Outside View

                

        

                   









 After six years of construction " The Globe Theater" was opened on June 12,1997 by Queen Elizabeth II.
 This theater is located in an area of 1.2 acre land with the construction of a museum, a restaurant, a gift shop and a three hundred-seat lecture theater."The Globe"theater was built in the shape of a twenty-sided circular  shaped building with ninety-nine feet in diameter. The thatched roof of the stage made of Norfolk reeda  was coated with a special fire-protective liquid. The construction work was done by McCurdy & Co, Burkshire.  The open area called "Pit" or "the Yard"  had a raised stage thrust half way into it. The pit is surrounded by three tiers of roofed galleries with balconies overlooking the back of the stage. This theater can house nearly  seven hundred people standing in the pit (called groundlings) and nine hundred people seated in galleries.Two sets of external stairs on either side of the theater provide access to balconies while the four main entrances lead the way to the yard and lower gallery. The stage is forty four feet wide and twenty five feet in depth and is five feet high supported by oak pillars painted like marble with golden leaves, called "Herculean Pillars".Two statues above the stage represent the figures of  Tragedy and Comedy.

View of the roof called "Heavens"

Statues above the stage

   The roof is called "Heavens" painted with the pictures of sun,moon and zodiac. There is a trapdoor in the middle of the ceiling for performers to descend onto the stage using some lever arrangement.Above the roof there is a porthole or opening which was used in Shakespeare's time for firing cannons and fireworks to produce special sound effects like thunder and lightning or to announce arrival of the royal persons. The stage wall (called "Frons Scenae" a name given by the Imperial Rome to  the stage walls of their amphitheaters) has a central doorway along with two other doorways on either side for the actors to make their entrances. The central doorway leads to the dressing room called "a tiring house". There is a trap door on the stage for actors to enter from the cellar beneath the stage. The balcony above the stage is flanked by two balconies on either side for accommodating the prestigious and wealthy people.

 Our elderly tour guide informed us that in Shakespeare's time common people used to pay one penny to stand in the pit and watch the play. Most of them used to drink and munch hazel nuts and garlic. So Shakespeare referred to them as "Pennystinks". The announcement about the performance of plays was done by sounding a trumpet. Our guide spoke in a jovial and entertaining manner, but gave very little information about the Elizabethan stage of Shakespeare's time. We were not allowed to see the Sam Wanamaker Play House as it was not included in our guided tour schedule. A little disappointed we went to the gift-shop. There were many books, stationery items, keychains, pictures and cards concerned with the great dramatist's life and plays. But when compared with Indian editions their cost is rather high. So we came out without buying any mementos to keep as cherished memories of this memorable visit.
                                       
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 17th September, 2015                                                                                Somaseshu Gutala                                  

                                                     

                                                                    

AT THE GLOBE THEATER (Part--I)

Globe Theater

View of the stage

 

Musical Instruments at Exhibition Hall

Props (swords & Daggers) at Exhibition Hall

                                                           

                         
   The present Globe Theater located in the Bankside is a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater constructed by the famous American actor and Director, Sam Wanamaker in 1990s. This theater was completed in 1997. The original site of Shakespeare's Globe Theater was about two hundred meters from the existing theater and is occupied by the heritage-listed Georgian buildings and Southwark Bridge Road. The spot is marked by a plaque and information panel. The design of the present theater is based on that of the early 17th century playhouses and is modelled on the earliest known designs of an English playhouse.

  At first we bought tickets to see the Globe Exhibition set up just below the present Globe Theater, wherein many exhibits of  the Elizabethan age are displayed along  with detailed information about Shakespeare's plays, stage devices, actor's costumes and accessories used by them. We saw a model of Shakespeare's Globe Theater and a chart showing the poet's dramatic career and other important historical events. One can hear the dramatic speeches of various Shakespearean characters by touching the computer screen. An audio guide is also available to help you know about the exhibits. But it needs more than three hours to learn about all these things.

Dressed figures at Exhibition Hall

Dress showcased at Exhibition Hall

Hazel nuts and other items

Chart Showing the dramas of Shakespeare

 





  Many visitors prefer to watch the objects directly and move on see their next place of visit that is the Globe Theater. One is attracted by the heavy and decorative royal dresses of the Elizabethan characters like Cleopatra and other queens. The male characters wore doublets and broad ruffs or collars around their necks. The musical instruments used in Elizabethan theaters such as  the tabor, the lutes, the violins, the flutes and the drums are displayed along with swords, daggers and other props in glass show cases.Heaps of hazel nuts are kept in bowls showing the eating habits of the spectators who used to munch nuts while watching the play. A number of whistles are seen which might have been used by spectators to show off their response to the performances of the actors on the stage. We saw  the earthen pots that had been used to collect pennies as fee from the spectators of those times. We also saw the surviving signboard of "Boar's Head Tavern"

Hercules hanging at Lecture Hall

Atlas hanging

Adonis Hanging

                                                                                                    

                                                
   After spending nearly one hour at the Globe Exhibition we went down the steps to see a practical demonstration lecture on Elizabethan costumes. The hall is decorated with various banners known as Newzealand Hangings. To add classical touch and to attract the attention of the audience various banners depicting characters like Hercules, Atlas and Adonis were displayed during Shakespeare's time. Following the same tradition characters like Hercules, Atlas,and Venus and Adonis are seen on these modern hangings made in Newzealand between January,1990 and April,1991.  These hangings made of finest wool were created by five hundred embroiders under the supervision of the theatrical designer, Raymond Boyce of Newzealand. These hangings were unveiled by the Globe's Patron,Prince Philip in June, 1997.

Queen Elizabeth (1533--1603)

King James I (1566--1625)

 




                                                                              
           

    We watched the elaborate Elizabethan way of dressing consisting of so many items as the speakers explained how class and status distinction in dress code were meticulously observed by people during those times. Everybody used to cover their bodies with four or five layers of clothing giving out a bulging appearance.The innermost clothing was made of linen so that it can be changed frequently. Ladies used to wear smock or shift linen covered by corset or a close fitting bodice stiffened with reeds or whalebone. A cone-shaped skirt stiffened with ropes was worn on the kirtle or under-gown. It is tied down to the corset at the sides to keep it secure without slipping down. A shirt with a high neck and puffed sleeves was worn securely tied under arms. A gown wide-spread like a fan and stiffened with whalebone and ropes was  worn . A cloak was used to safeguard them from rain. Ladies used to wear knee-high stockings made of wool, silk or yarn according to their status.

    Men used to wear a shirt covered by a waist coat and a jacket. They wore breeches or upper hose covering from waist to knee.On it they wore upper or nether hose with a girdle on which they hung their dagger and purse. They used to pad their bellies to give a bulging appearance which was considered a sign of high status. The rich and royal people used clothes made of fine wool, silk and velvet with bright colors like purple, red, gold and blue. The lower class or common people were permitted to use clothes made of linen, coarse wool or sheepskin with sober colors like brown, green, yellow,beige and orange.

  After the demonstration class we were asked to attend the guided tour of Shakespeare's Globe. An elderly gentleman with a booming voice hurriedly led us up into the open air theater re-constructed by the famous American actor and director, Sam Wanamaker. This Theater was opened in 1997 with the performance of  Henry V. Just beside the Globe there is an indoor sister theater built in Jacobean style commemorating Sir Wanamaker called Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, where stage shows are organized. It was opened in 2014 with staging of the play "The Duchess of Malfi". No artificial light is used. Only daylight through openings in shutters or candlelights served for giving illumination during performance of plays.
                       
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   9th September, 2015                                                                                 Somaseshu Gutala