Globe Theatre Tiring House
Interesting information about
the Globe Theatre Tiring House during the life and times of William Shakespeare and the Globe
Theatre of Elizabethan London, England
Globe Theatre Tiring House
The
stage wall structure contained at least three doors
which lead to a leading to small
structure, back stage, called the '
Tiring House '. The stage wall was
covered by curtains allowing entrances
from left, right and center. The actors used
this area to change their attire - hence
the name 'Tiring House'.
The
tiring house contained
the dressing rooms with access to the the prop room with
connecting passage and stairways. The 'Tiring House' was a hive of
activity with actors changing their attire and collecting
their props. Although many of the plays were performed by
actors wearing Elizabethan clothes the
Globe Theatre Costumes
belonged to the Theatre and were both costly and sumptuous.
Globe Theatre Tiring House Prop
Man
The Globe Theatre company
used a 'prop man' who would be stationed in the 'Tiring House'. The Prop
man would have a list of all the Globe
Theatre Props which to be used in a play, what scene they were
required for and which actor/ character would need them. The list was
glued to a board which hung on one of the Tiring House doors.
Globe Theatre - The Lord's
Rooms and the Actor's Balcony
Immediately above the curtained doors of the 'Tiring House' were a row
of galleries which housed the
Lord's Rooms. The centre gallery, or balcony, might also be used for
plays requiring such a structure - the Balcony scene from Romeo and
Juliet immediately springs to mind.
Globe Theatre - The Musicians
Gallery
Different effects were gradually added to the Globe Theatre including
music to accompany the performances. One of the balconies above the
stage therefore housed the musicians. Composers were specially
commissioned to write music and songs to accompany the works of
playwrights such as William Shakespeare. The most famous Globe Theatre
composer was
Robert
Johnson ( 1582-1633 ).
Robert Johnson
composed 'Full fathom five' and 'Where the Bee
Sucks' which were written for the first performance of The Tempest by
William Shakespeare. The musicians playing in the Musician's Balcony
were usually
hidden
from view behind closed curtains.
Globe Theatre - The Hut
Above these galleries was a small
house-like structure called the 'hut'
complete with a roof. The 'hut' was used as
a covered
storage space for the Globe acting troupe.
The 'Hut' could be accessed directly from the
connecting passage and stairways from the
'Tiring House'.
Globe Theatre Tiring House
Interesting Facts and information
about the Globe Theatre Tiring House.
Additional details, facts and information about the
Globe Theatre can be accessed via the Globe Theatre Sitemap.
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