The structure of theatres – page 92 exercise 6

Plays, have, as, which, to, from, felt, by, so, long, at

Exercise 2

The Globe Theatre is situated in London at New Globe Walk 21, it can be reached on foot or by bike along the river with an easy access and public bike racks, or by underground and by train at Blackfriars or London Bridge Station. It takes 10 minutes on foot from the station. It’s supposed not to reach the theatre by car because it’s a pedestrian area, so people would be willing to use public transport or taxies. Furthermore it is possible to book tickets online, calling +4402074019919 or at the box office open 10 am- 5 pm from Monday to Saturday and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday.

The Exhibition is an opportunity to explore Shakespeare’s life and London at his time, including the Theatre building. It’s possible to take a tour in English language every 30 minutes (with additional sheets in different language for foreign people) or an online experience inside the theatre. In addition tourists can listen to an audio guide included in the basic pack in many different languages.

The first theatres built in London were the Theatre (1576), Curtain Theatre (1577), the Rose (1587), the Swan (1595), the Globe (1599), the Fortune (1600), and the Red Bull (1604). They all obviously had the same function but they differed in some structural aspects: for example the Red Bull and the Fortune were square while the others had a polygonal plan.

The Old Globe Theatre was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre, built in 1576, from the Lord Chamberlain’s Men playing company. It is associated with William for the theatrical representations played inside it. On 29 June 1613 it was buried down by fire and rebuilt one year later; last it closed in 1642.

Behind the pillars was the stage wall called the ' Frons Scenae ' (taken from the name given by Imperial Rome to the stage walls of their amphitheatres). Above the door area was a highly decorative screen called the “Heavens” and supported by the same pillars; it created an area hidden from the audience to make actors invisible. Behind the stage there were a tiring room where performers could change their clothes and begin the next scene.