The Globe Theater In The Elizabethan Era

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The Globe Theater was an essential component of Shakespeare’s life; it was the place where his plays were performed, and it contains the memory of years of skill and cultural tradition. The Globe Theater was a major artistic component in the Elizabethan era, for it held some of the period’s greatest performances, and it was where Shakespeare directed and acted his plays. At the time of the creation of the Globe Theater, the theater business was booming. Queen Elizabeth loved the theater and the arts, and theater companies sprang up across England. Though popular, the theater business was often scorned because of its coarse humor. However, that did not stop English actors, because the theaters attracted audiences of up to three thousand from all social classes (shakespeareinamericancommunities.org). Shakespeare began to act and write plays at around …show more content…

Built in Southwark and attracting people of all social classes, the theater was extremely successful. It was one of four major theaters: the Swan, Rose, and Hope. It towered at 300 feet tall, and most likely hid trap doors for special effects. In spite of the it’s success, the theater was only in use until 1613, when a huge fire broke out on June 29th. The special effects cannon was loaded with gunpowder and padding, and when it went off, the thatched roof of the theater caught fire. A replacement theater, the Globe Two, was constructed the following year. After the death of William Shakespeare in 1616, the theater continued to be used until the Puritans demolished the site and replaced it with housing in 1644. For next three hundred years, the theater would remain unspoken of until its remains were