Theatre Group tour of the Globe Theatre

44 members of the Theatre Group assembled at The Globe Theatre for a tour and visit to a new exhibition. With our headsets all working, hopefully, we went round to the riverside entrance and were told about this reproduction of the original theatre of 1599 being built due to a trust founded by Sam Wannamaker. An earlier set of theatre group members had contributed to this and there is a plaque on the ground of the yard along with others from people and societies many of whom are well known names. Inside the theatre we were seated and lucky enough to see part of a final rehearsal for a new play, Princess Essex, whilst also being entertained by our guide who also had performed in plays at the theatre. We were told how the original thatched theatre had been burnt down during a performance of Henry VIII when a cannon fired in the play set fire to the thatch. It was soon rebuilt but again did not last too long as theatre was banned during the commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell. We also saw a copy of the first folio of Shakespeare’s plays which is on display and said to be worth many millions of pounds. On display there was a grand costume made to be worn at the Royal Gala theatre opening by Jane Lapotaire as Elizabeth I on 12 June 1977. The exhibition took us through Shakespeare’s time and theatre and showed us how plays were printed. As well as how backstage was set up. A very interesting afternoon which some of us ended with a nice cup of tea.

Contributed by Mary Garside