Globe Theatre Layout
Interesting information about
the Globe Theatre Layout during the life and times of William Shakespeare and the Globe
Theatre of Elizabethan London, England
Globe Theatre Layout
The Globe Theatre Layout
is housed in an open arena. Not one inside picture of the
old Globe is in existence, however, a picture of another
Elizabethan theatre, the Swan, has survived. The following
picture of the Swan theatre by Johannes de Witt, a Dutch
traveller, is dated between 1596-1598. The layout of the
open air arena, featured the 'pit' or the 'yard'. The Globe
had a raised stage at one end and was surrounded by three
tiers of roofed galleries with balconies overlooking the
back of the stage. The stage projected halfway into the
'pit'.
Picture of the Swan Theatre
Globe Theatre Layout
The Layout of the Globe Theatre:
-
Shape of the building - It
had been assumed that the Globe Theatre had been an octagonal shaped
building. This assumption was based on the illustrated Visscher map
engraving of 1616. But recent archaeological evidence and other
documents, such as the illustrated Hollar map, indicate that it was
actually a 20-sided building.
-
Overall layout - Layout was
similar but far smaller version (1500 -3000 audience capacity) than the
Coliseum in Rome which had a 50,000 audience capacity
-
The Pit or the Yard - The
stage layout projected halfway into the ' yard ' where the commoners
stood to watch the plays
-
The Galleries - The seats in
each of the three levels of galleries were tiered with three rows of
wooden benches, increasing in size towards the back, following the shape
of the building and structure. The galleries were covered affording some
shelter from the elements
-
Access - the Globe had a
main entrance door and an exit door
-
Stairs - There were two sets
of stairs in the layout which were situated either side of the theatre
-
Toilet facilities - There
were no toilet facilities, neither was there heating or lighting
-
The stage - The Stage was 5
feet high,
between 20 and 45 foot wide and between 15 foot and to 45
feet long
-
The rear of the stage - A
roofed house-like structure was at the rear of the stage, supported by
two large ' Herculean ' columns (pillars) made of huge, single tree
trunks. The pillars supported a roof called the ' Heavens '
-
Rear Stage Wall -
Behind
the pillars was the stage wall called
the ' Frons Scenae '
-
The Lords Rooms -
Immediately above stage wall was the stage gallery that was used by
actors (Juliet's balcony) & the rich the nobility - known as ' Lord's
rooms'
-
Gentlemen's rooms - There were additional balconies on the left and
right of the ' lord's rooms ' which were called the ' Gentlemen's rooms
'
-
The ' Tiring House ' - The
stage wall structure contained at least two doors which lead to a
small structure, back stage, called the ' Tiring House '
-
The ' Hut ' - Above the '
Tiring House ' was a small house-like structure called the 'hut'
complete with roof
Globe Theatre Layout
Interesting Facts and information
about the Globe Theatre Layout.
Additional details, facts and information about the
Globe Theatre can be accessed via the Globe Theatre Sitemap.
|
