Globe Theatre: Performance during Shakespeare's time

The modern reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre provides insight into the theatrical practices of his time. It was an open-air, round theater accommodating up to 3,000 spectators, mostly standing in front of a thrust stage. Admission cost a penny, leading to the term 'box office.' For additional pennies, patrons could sit in galleries with roofs or even get cushioned chairs. Wealthy patrons paid sixpence for seats behind or on the stage, prioritizing being seen in their fine clothes over viewing the play.

The theater lacked artificial lighting and elaborate sets. Simple props like chairs or beds were brought on and off stage. There was no curtain for illusions. Actors developed powerful voices and memories to project their lines to audiences of 2,000-3,000 people. Two columns held up a canopy over the stage, providing some protection and a symbolic representation of the 'heavens' often painted with stars.

Costumes were the most valuable property of the acting companies, costing more than the plays themselves. They held significant symbolic meaning, conveying character status in the absence of elaborate sets. All roles, including female parts like Desdemona and Ophelia, were played by talented boy actors aged 12-20, who were highly skilled at portraying women, even impressing foreign travelers who saw actual women on stage.

Below the stage was a 'hell' space, hidden from the audience, accessible by a trap door. This was used for dramatic effects, such as the ghost in Hamlet appearing from underground or Ophelia's burial. Behind the stage, between two columns, was a 'discovery space' with a curtain, used to reveal characters or objects. Behind this was the 'tiring house,' a changing room for costumes.

Costume changes were crucial for signaling significant shifts in character fates, such as Hamlet's ghost appearing in armor and later in a nightgown. The gallery spaces above the stage were utilized for various purposes, including balconies, castle ramparts, and locations for musicians to punctuate key moments with trumpets or drums.

Despite the simplicity of the staging compared to modern theaters, the Globe offered many possibilities for theatrical effects. The powerful sense of illusion relied heavily on the audience's imagination, as encouraged by Shakespeare himself in Henry V. Spectators had to imagine night scenes or distant locations while standing in broad daylight, relying on Shakespeare's evocative language to conjure up entire worlds.