Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Hugh Macrae Richmond (University of California, Berkeley)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of York), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Domains

Organisations and institutions (arts& culture)
Theatre

Dates

Date of occurrence 1996

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

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The idea of rebuilding Shakespeare's Globe Theatre near its original site, as a monument to Shakespeare's career in Southwark, was the aspiration of an American actor and director, Sam Wanamaker (1919-1993). The new Globe Theatre was based on research by John Orrell, the architect being Theo Cosby of Pentagram, with engineering and structure by Buro Happold, and construction by McCurdy & Co. The theatre was opened formally by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 June 1997, after a preliminary year in 1996. Under the name of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre it now stages a summer season of plays from May to October, accommodating a maximum of 1581 spectators. From 1995 to 2006, its first director was Mark Rylance, succeeded by Dominic Dromgoole.

Wanamaker became interested in the Globe after visiting the

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1596 words

Citation: Richmond, Hugh Macrae. "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 July 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=5533, accessed 26 November 2024.]

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

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