>The Globe was an Elizabethan playhouse that was used by London's acting companies from 1599 until 1613.
* Shape and Exterior
* The Globe was almost perfectly circular in plan, with a wooden support on the inner wall.
* The outer walls were plaster covered in limewash.
* The three-tiered gallery provided space for seating or standing for those who purchased the more expensive tickets.
* The Stage:
* Its stage was used to perform plays such as Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Lear, and The Winter's Tale.
* It was approximately 13.7 m wide and 8.5 m deep, with a 2.5 m deep alcove at the rear.
* Above the stage was the "Heavens" or "Upper Stage," which was mainly utilized to represent balcony, town and country scenes, city walls, tower or castle tops.
* Under the stage were 2 cellars in which sound effects could be made.
* Seating:
* The interior was divided into 3 classes:
* Pit - this was the standing room or "mosh pit" section in front of the stage where groundlings (the poorest of the audience) would stand.
* Second Gallery - this was seating under a canopy which protected audiences from bad weather.
* Third Gallery - this was also under a canopy, and sometimes also included boxes for private groups.
* The most expensive seat was directly in the center of the stage.
* Each section had its own entrance.
* Stage Area
* There were two side doors through which actors made their entrances and exits which served as the main point of entry for most of the characters in the plays.
* The stage area also included a curtained "inner stage," which could be used for intimate moments or for characters to hide in.
* Lighting:
* At the Globe, there was no artificial light, so they relied on natural daylight to illuminate the stage and the spectators.
* Some plays required indoor scenes, and these would take place before noon.
* Artificial lighting was used for special effects at moments such as lightening flashes.
* The theatre was open to rain and the elements because the roof didn't cover the entire auditorium; only the stage and first gallery were protected from rain.
Overall, the Globe Theatre was a unique and iconic venue that played a significant role in the development of English theatre and was closely associated with the career and work of William Shakespeare.