Built from the timbers of The Theatre *dismantled in Shoreditch, the old Globe theatre served as home to the first performances of Julius Caesar, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello*, and more, where Shakespeare performed, invested, and revolutionised live theatre.
Shakespeare's Globe theatre history | From 1599 foundations to modern revival
Few places in London combine historical grandeur with theatrical brilliance quite like Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Founded 426 years ago, the 1599 Globe theatre was built by Shakespeare’s own company, destroyed in fire, lost to time, then reborn in 1997 near its original site. As both a museum of history and a buzzing live entertainment venue, the Globe transports you into the heart of Elizabethan performance, where Shakespeare’s masterpieces were first staged and continue to captivate modern audiences with immersive, electrifying productions beneath London’s only thatched roof. Read on to discover how this living stage has inspired creativity, political commentary, and global theatre innovation for centuries.
Shakespeare's Globe timeline
- 1599: First Globe Theatre opens on Bankside, built by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, including William Shakespeare.
- 1613 (June 29): Fire during Henry VIII destroys the thatched roof of the Globe in about an hour.
- 1614: Rebuilt on original foundations with a tiled roof and more lavish design.
- 1642: Parliament orders the closure of theatres. The Globe remains closed.
- 1644–45: Globe demolished and replaced with tenements.
- 1970: Sam Wanamaker establishes the Shakespeare Globe Trust to recreate the theatre.
- 1997: Modern reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe opens on Bankside, just meters from the original site.
- 2014: The indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opens as part of the Globe complex. It enabled the new Globe theatre to extend its live entertainment programming year‑round, hosting intimate productions like The Duchess of Malfi, The Tempest, and striking modern revivals.
- 2025: Celebrated for global reach, affordability, and world-class live performances with audiences from 147 countries.
The history of Shakespeare's Globe theatre explained
Past productions & legacy
Celebrating over two decades of live theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe has staged more than 300 productions since reopening, including landmark productions like Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, and Mark Rylance’s Richard III, establishing it as a live entertainment institution.
Notable past shows:
- Macbeth (with Patrick Stewart)
This intense Macbeth, adapted by Rupert Goold and starring Sir Patrick Stewart, took Shakespeare into a chilling reinterpretation of Stalinist Russia, using projections, haunting soundscapes, and psychological staging. Fans hail it as one of the darkest, most gripping Globe productions ever. - Twelfth Night, directed by Tim Carroll
Performed in traditional Jacobean style, with candlelight, period instruments, and an all-male cast including Mark Rylance as Olivia and Stephen Fry as Malvolio, this production delighted audiences with bawdy humour, gender fluidity, and sharp wit rooted in Elizabethan theatrical practices. - Much Ado About Nothing (2011 & 2014)
Jeremy Herrin’s 2011 staging starring Eve Best (Beatrice) and Charles Edwards (Benedick) won acclaim for evoking period staging, minimalist sets, and dynamic chemistry. A 2014 revival showcased vibrant energy with oranges tossed to the crowd and sweeping ensemble scenes, immersion in every season. - Original Practices Era under Mark Rylance (1997–2005)
This foundational period helped define Globe’s performance philosophy, documented in the Globe Archive: all-male casts, bare-stage rehearsals, historically informed staging, and actor–audience intimacy. Rylance’s Richard III remains iconic for pioneering rehearsal methods and live theatrical community-building.The Globe Archive preserves play programs, prompt books, recordings, and backstage stories, offering a window into the venue’s creative journey.
The Globe theatre today
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🌤️Stunning open‑air amphitheatre experience
The Globe recreates Shakespeare’s “wooden O” with a circular yard surrounded by three tiers of gallery seating. Audiences stand under London skies as films do indoors, with only classical sound effects. Capacity is approximately 1,400 spectators, about half of the 3,000-seat original, ensuring intimate, immersive viewing.
🕯️Seasonal indoor theatre at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
This candlelit Jacobean-style theatre, opened in 2014, seats 340 and stages intimate performances by candlelight. Perfect during colder months, its design channels early modern indoor playhouses and allows for emotionally powerful works like The Tempest or The Duchess of Malfi. Performance seasons run from autumn through spring, with immersive productions and evocative acoustics.
💷Unmatched accessibility & affordability
The Globe remains London’s best-value theatre. About 40% of tickets are £5–£10standing in the yard, preserving the Elizabethan model of accessible performance. In 2015, 40% of its audience paid £10 or less, and the venue reported a 94 % occupancy rate and earned acclaim as “one of the most democratic art forms” (The Times).
🌍Global reach & artistic impact
Globe productions now attract audiences from over 147 countries. It has produced more than 568 shows in recent seasons, achieved the milestone of staging all Shakespeare’s plays, and nurtured innovative projects across media, including live streams and educational collaborations.
🎭Bold programming & innovation
From reimagined classics (Romeo and Juliet in a Wild West setting) to bold international festivals (Globe to Globe), the Globe continues to experiment theatrically. It balances Elizabethan authenticity with cutting-edge staging and diverse casts, making theatre both historically grounded and vibrantly modern.
Frequently asked questions about Shakespeare’s Globe theatre history
The Shakespeare’s Globe theatre was built in 1599 on Bankside by Shakespeare’s company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later the King’s Men), with Shakespeare himself as a stakeholder, using recycled timbers from The Theatre in Shoreditch.
It burned down in 1613 during Henry VIII. Rebuilt in 1614, it was closed in 1642 and demolished in 1644–45.
The new Globe theatre is a faithful reconstruction opened in 1997 near the original site, following historical designs and techniques.
Globe was open-air and seasonal; Blackfriars was an indoor theatre within city limits. The modern Globe includes the indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for winter performances.
Yes, the Shakespeare’s Globe theatre tour walks you through architectural history, Shakespeare’s era, and backstage spaces.
Inside, you’ll find three levels of galleries, the central yard for standing groundlings, wooden pillars, a thatched roof, and actor-accessible balcony and trapdoor stage areas.
Many of his greatest works, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Julius Caesar, premiered at the Globe, often tailored to the theatre’s open-air design and ensemble of actors, including Richard Burbage.
