Learn About William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre
One of the things that you have probably have realized by now is that whenever Shakespeare was involved in things, nothing was ever quite a straightforward as it might at first seen. This is most definitely true of the Globe Theatre which came into being throughout the first six months of 1599.
Today, a detailed reproduction of this Elizabethan playhouse stands on almost the exact same spot as Shakespeare’s Wooden O as he was fond of describing the globe.
Constructed from wood, there was no roof which meant that this was definitely a summer venue. And even then in instances of bad weather, performances had to be cancelled.
The Globe was built when Shakespeare’s company still then the Lord Chamberlain's Men needed a new theater as their existing one had come to the end of its 21 year lease.
Now our famous company thanks to Shakespeare’s literary efforts, the landlord demanded an exorbitant rent from the successful troupe of actors. And after what ran into years of negotiation, he finally threatened to pull the theater down if they didn’t give him his cart of the action.
Rather than helping his course, the landlord had actually shot himself in the foot as he gave the sharp witted bunch of fesbians a very good idea.
It was in fact their building and only the grandis stood upon belonged to the landlord. So a cunning plan was quickly hatched.
After the dead of night, the conspirators worthy of any Shakespearean plot dismantled the old theater plank by plank and ferried the contentious cargo across the River Thames to a new site where the globe soon became one of Elizabethan London’s most famous landmark.
With masterpieces such as Hamlet and the Twelfth Night on offer at the Globe in the early years, the play going folk of the nation’s capital flocked to see the works of William Shakespeare.
Also Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed many command performances of Shakespeare’s plays and here royal seal of approval certainly helped to promote even greater success.
However, there were occasions when Shakespeare took risks writing about topical political issues at a time when displeasing the Queen could cost you your life.
Certain scenes that he penned were omitted during Elizabeth’s lifetime. The deposition of a weak monarch in his historical play Richard II would undoubtedly have cost considerable offense.
Here, Shakespeare was in point a fact questioning the divine right of kingship, the God-given right of the royal family’s line of succession—something that Queen Elizabeth might well have interpreted as being – to treason.
Fortunately, Shakespeare was wise enough to avoid being sent to the tower of London keeping his head to write another day. And interestingly, when Queen Elizabeth died and her nephew King James the VI of Scotland acceded to the throne, Shakespeare even went out of his way to write plays that would please the new monarch.
Macbeth took a complete reworking of Scottish historical fact to boost the already enormous royal ego. And as well as flattering the new king’s dubious lineage, Shakespeare also kept the play very short about half the length of his usual literary offerings in keeping with King James’ preferences.
Ironically, the Globe today stands just a stone’s throw from souther cathedra where a real life Shakespeare and Tragedy is commemorated.
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