Shakespeare - The Globe Theatre London tour transcript

behind me Shakespeare Theatre rebuilt recently but it was originally constructed in the 17th century and its name is the globe which goes from the expression everyone in the world is an actor the conditions at the time when this would have been built were very different from the way actors work now it was all done during the day because they didn't have enough money to afford candles to put on the place at night so it would have been far more interaction between the public and the actors and in fact The Groundlings which were the cheapest seats just under the open cover they would shout at the actors and throw things at them if they didn't like the play at the time as well none of the actors were women because they weren't allowed to be in place and also the church was very critical of theatre it called it the nest of the devil and it was usually just outside the city walls because it wasn't really allowed in those days it was seen as something very popular and affordable because just as I said before the cheapest seats could be afforded by everyone so this is where the groundlings stand and to come here it's only five pounds to see a play and they say it's one of the best places even though if it rains umbrellas aren't allowed so you're gonna get wet but they say would have been the best place as well because audie and the audience participated so you were right next to the actress foot you can see up his nose and if he spat down at you as i said there's no umbrellas allowed I'm so would have been a big problem but this great participation because the audience can see you the actors everybody's involved in the play which makes kind of a difference from the typical West End play where everybody's in the dark here you felt like you were really part of it no there's a chapter in them as well which is open a balloon and you come down from heaven avoid it does thank you the globe theatre put some faith maybe by Shakespeare and they're pretty authentic even down to the finest details like the original 17th century underwear and so far we not that comfortable and nowadays we caught we go and see a play but back then the most important thing was the acoustics it was more important that you heard the play and so wherever you stash the more expensive seats were the ones that had the best sound the stage represents three different elements the top with the zodiac signs it's painted blue represents heaven or the sky there's even a chuck door you can go come down from and the stage itself represents the earth and was a truck door to go underneath which represents hell this round shape kind of increases the sense of participation the building itself though it was hard to get permission for it because remember in the 17th century it had burned down twice so to make this thatch kind of roof after the great fire of london was pretty tough to do took them eight years to get permission but they finally managed to go ahead with it shall I compare thee to a summers day another piece of summer's day in London