The stage of the Globe (Figure 29) is set five feet above the ground of the yard, as was the original Globe. According to Globe tour guides, this height, the average height of a seventeenth century playgoer, was set in an attempt to deter people from attempting to climb onto the stage. However, people are taller now than they were during the 1600's, such that a twenty-first century playgoer will stand close to a foot taller than the stage. Two huge posts are featured on the stage, giving support to the heavens (Figure 30), painted with the sun and moon, as well as a variety of astral signs. The back of the stage features two side doors flanking a central opening, and the second level consists of a balcony with lords rooms to the left and right.
Figure 29: Globe Stage, 1997
Figure 30: The Heavens, 1997
While the Gallery (Figure 31) consisted of bare wood in December 1997, it will soon be decorated as elaborately as the rest of the theatre. No member of the audience is farther than 66 feet from the stage.
Figure 31: The Gallery, 1997
While the original Globe was known to house 3000 audience members, the same size new Globe is limited to 1500, a concession made for safety. However, the total income per performance is approximately the same as it was for the original theatre (adjusted for inflation). According to Globe tour guides the fee for entering the original Globe, one penny, was approximately 1/84th of a minimum week's wage. Currently, the fee for entrance is 5 pounds, which is approximately 1/40th of a minimum week's wage, or approximately double the value of the original Globe's fee. Thus, while size of the audience has been cut in half, the value of the ticket price has been doubled.
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| Lesson 5.5 |
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Lesson 6.0 |