Why did boys play the roles in Globe theatre?

During the Elizabethan era, women were not permitted to perform on stage in England. This was due to societal and cultural norms that dictated the roles and behaviors appropriate for women. Men played all characters, including female roles, using elaborate costumes, wigs, and make-up to create the illusion of female characters.

Additionally, there were laws, such as the 1572 Vagrancy Act, that prohibited women from performing on stage unless they were part of a royal or noble household. Women who defied these laws faced legal consequences and social stigma.

It is also worth noting that acting was considered a disreputable occupation, not befitting those from higher social backgrounds or refined upbringing. Men from lower social classes primarily dominated theatre companies' performers.

The all-male composition of performance companies, including the Globe Theatre, resulted from these limitations of the time which began gradually to disappear until actresses took to theatres after the English Restoration in the late 17th century