Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare’s Globe is a modern reconstruction of the Elizabethan Globe Theatre located on Bankside in London, close to the site of the original 16th-century playhouse. It was rebuilt in the late 20th century to present plays in a historical-style open-air setting and to support education about Shakespearean theatre.

Performances are staged on a thrust stage with an open yard where standing spectators (groundlings) watch at close quarters, and higher-priced gallery seating in three covered tiers. The complex also contains the candlelit indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for smaller productions and an exhibition on theatre history.

The modern Globe opened in stages through the 1990s and early 2000s under the guidance of the Globe Theatre Trust; it combines reconstructed timber-frame building techniques with modern safety and audience facilities. The site operates year-round with a mix of live performance, tours and educational programmes.

The Globe stands on Bankside in central London, near the south bank of the Thames and within walking distance of Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge.

• Seasonal performances: The open-air theatre operates mainly from spring to autumn and uses natural light for performances; evening and winter work is staged in the indoor playhouse.
• Seating style: Seating includes gallery seats and standing room close to the stage; groundling standing places are typically the cheapest option.

What to See #

• Main Globe Theatre: The open-air reconstruction of the Globe stage where Shakespeare plays are performed in a timber-framed, thrust-stage configuration with standing 'groundling' space.
• Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: An indoor Jacobean-style theatre, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, used for candlelit performances and smaller productions.
• Exhibition and Education Centre: A visitor exhibition and education centre explaining the original Globe, Elizabethan theatre practices and the modern reconstruction process.