What was the layout of the globe theatre

Overall layout - Layout was similar but far smaller version audience capacity than the Coliseum in Rome which had a 50, 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.

Additional details, facts and information about the Globe Theatre can be accessed via the Globe Theatre Sitemap. Globe Theatre Layout. The stage measured approximately 43 feet On this stage, there was a trap door for use by performers to enter from the "cellarage" area beneath the stage. There may have been other trap doors around the stage. Large columns on either side of the stage supported a roof over the rear portion of the stage.

The ceiling under this roof was called the "heavens," and may have been painted with clouds and the sky. The back wall of the stage had two or three doors on the main level, with a curtained inner stage in the center and a balcony above it. The doors entered into the "tiring house" backstage area where the actors dressed and awaited their entrances. The balcony housed the musicians and could also be used for scenes requiring an upper space, such as the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet.

The modern Globe At the instigation of American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, a new Globe theatre was built according to an Elizabethan plan. It opened in under the name "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre" and now stages plays every summer May to October. Mark Rylance was appointed as the first artistic director of the modern Globe in In , Dominic Dromgoole took over.

The new theatre on Bankside is approximately yards m from the original site, centre to centre, and was the first thatched roof building permitted in London since the Great Fire of London in The second gallery would cost another penny The Globe 'Box Office' At the start of the play after collecting money from the audience the admission collectors put the boxes in a room backstage - the box office.

The ' Housekeepers ' The owners of the Globe theatre The interior design and structure of the Globe Theatre Design and structure was similar but far smaller version audience capacity than the Coliseum of the Roman period 50, audience capacity allowing the maximum number of playgoers in the space available Globe Theatre Lighting Natural lighting as plays were produced in the afternoon.

However there was some artificial lighting mainly intended to provide atmosphere for night scenes Heating There was no heating.

Plays were performed in the summer months and transferred to the indoor playhouses during the winter Stage dimensions Dimensions - Cannot be specific for the Globe. Stage dimensions varied from 20 foot wide 15 foot deep to 45 feet to 30 feet The height of the stage Dimensions - A raised stage - 3 to 5 feet and supported by large pillars The floor of the Stage Made of wood, sometimes covered with rushes.

Trap doors would enable some special effects e. These were drilled through the centre to eliminate warping of the wood The ' Heavens ' - a roof area The pillars supported a roof called the ' Heavens ' The ' Heavens ' The ' Heavens ' served to create an area hidden from the audience.

This area provided a place for actors to hide. A doorway to the left and right and a curtained central doorway from which the actors made their entrances. The audience would have a good view of the Lords. And the Lords were able to hear the actors clearly. The musicians would also reside in the Lords rooms The ' 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 stage wall was covered by a curtain. The actors used this area to change their attire The ' Hut ' Above the ' Tiring House ' was a small house-like structure called the 'hut' complete with roof. Used as covered storage space for the troupe Elizabethan advertising Above the hut was a small tower with a flag pole. Flags were erected on the day of the performance which sometimes displayed a picture advertising the next play to be performed.

C olour coding was also used - a black flag meant a tragedy , white a comedy and red a history. The ' yard ' The stage structure projected halfway into the ' yard ' where the commoners groundlings paid 1 penny to stand to watch the play.

They would have crowded around the 3 sides of the stage structure. Groundlings Commoners who paid 1 penny admission to stand to watch the play ' Stinkards ' During the height of the summer the groundlings were also referred to as ' stinkards ' for obvious reasons Access to the Galleries Two sets of stairs, either side if Theater structure.

The stairways could also be external to the main structure to give maximum seating space Seats in the galleries - Three levels Structure - 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.

Site Map. Shakespeare Biography. Globe Theater. Page Back. Size of amphitheatres. Varying Shapes. Octagonal structure , circular in shape having between 8 and 24 sides.

Globe Building materials. Structure - Timber, nails, stone flint , plaster and thatched roofs. Later amphitheatres had tiled roofs. Globe Building Duration. Indeed, it was a fine piece of architecture, and it was built solely to accommodate large audiences.

Since nobody has ever actually seen the globe up close and personal, most of the things known about the Globe structure are actually just well educated, theoretical guesses. The pillars were painted to look like Italian marble, the sky painted midnight blue, and images of the gods overlooked the balcony. It could hold up to 3, people. By May , the new theatre was ready to be opened.