As our Saturdays were very scarce we had to plan them way in advance so nothing would deter us from going to London for a day one last time. We took a morning train to King's Cross and then made our wait to the Southbank where we went straight to the Globe Theater. I had wanted to go there for ages just because I learnt so much about Shakespeare back when I was in 6th and 7th grade while studying English at school.
It is not THE original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare performed and where his plays were performed. This is the third Globe Theatre. In 1613 the original theater burnt down to the ground because gunpowder used for cannons in Henry VIII play caught fire on the thatched roof. The second one was quickly built but also didn't last. Finally, in 1970, Sam Wanamaker, an American actor, set up a trust to fund his life-long dream of reconstructing the Original Globe. He was persistent in looking for land (it took him 23 years) and then securing the construction of the new Globe Theatre. Unfortunately he died before the construction was finished.
New Globe Theatre was opened in 1997 and is called "Shakespeare's Globe".
We got a guided group tour through the theatre that lasted about 30 minutes.
Then we could roam the exhibit that had a lot of historical information and displays about the history of London.
For some reason (again) I don't remember much at all from our tour. But pictures help to recover some of the memories.
Every day there is a play performed on this stage. You can buy cheap 5 pound tickets to stand in the middle of the yard (even if it rains) or the more expensive seats in the audience compartments.
But something told me not to bother with buying tickets for the play (A Midsummer's Night Dream) as the kids were not exactly Shakespeare's theatre material that day.
One thing for sure--I was happy we managed to squeeze in a visit to Shakespeare's Globe in London before we left.
Lyana.
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