The Globe - Historic Environment

What was the Globe Theatre?

The Globe Theatre was built by Shakespeare's theatre company in 1599 in Southwark, London. It was three storeys high and could hold up to 3,000 spectators.

How was the Globe Theatre structured?

The inside of the Globe Theatre was structured to reflect the social hierarchy of Elizabethan society.

• ❖ The Lords' Rooms were the most expensive seats in the house and cost around 5 pence.
• ❖ The balconies to the left and right of the stage were the Gentlemen's Rooms. These cost around 4 pence.
• ❖ The galleries were seated sections covered by a roof and were for richer members of the audience.
• ❖ The pit was where ordinary people stood to watch the performance. The audience in this section heckled the actors.