London’s Globe Theatre is a venue that simply radiates highbrow heritage. The theatre was originally designed in the 1500s and its history is linked closely to William Shakespeare and his many timeless plays.
In Elizabethan times, when the Bard was busy scribbling his masterpieces, most plays were performed in inns, taverns or in the homes of the wealthy. However, in 1599the Globe Theatre was built in Shoreditch and a troupe of actors moved in to fill the stage with comedy, tragedy and drama. Amongst this group – which was known as the King’s Men – was William Shakespeare himself. They thrilled audiences for two decades with plays like Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure and As You Like It.
The reincarnated Globe Theatre, which took its blueprint from the original Elizabethan design, takes pride of position on the banks of the River Thames, just a few hundred yards from its original spot. As well as a great programme of theatre, the Globe is also home to an exhibition that shows what life was really like in Elizabethan times.
The theatre is relatively easy to find on foot, or you can opt for car hire in London and follow your sat-nav to this cultural highlight. A trip to the theatre is a must if you’re visiting the capital between May and October when the iconic open-air stage comes into its own, welcoming a host of stars to perform in both modern and traditional interpretations of Shakespeare’s work. In recent years, the likes of Gemma Arterton, David Tennant and Benedict Cumberbatch have all done a turn on the Globe’s hallowed boards.
Whether you want to enter into a fairytale fantasy with the enchanting Midsummer Night’s Dream, get intense with Lear, Hamlet or Othello, or laugh it up with one of Shakespeare’s fun tales of mistaken identity, London’s Globe Theatre is the perfect place to do it.
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