The Rise and Fall of the Theater in London The rise of the theatres start in 1576 but by 1648 theatres and playhouses were ordered to be pulled down, all players to be seized and whipped, and anyone caught attending a play to be fined five shillings. What events took place to lead to such a reverse of fortune for the theatres? What happened? The Old Globe Timeline provides all of the answers.
How it all started - the New Globe Theater, London, England The Old Globe Theatre was demolished in 1644. It took the vision and drive of Sam Wanamaker to initiate the development of a New Globe Theatre. The new Globe Timeline charts the key dates and events to bring the Globe and William Shakespeare back to London after a gap of over 350 years.
The New London Globe Theater Timeline - History of events 1919 Sam Wanamaker is born 1949 Sam Wanamaker arrives in London and decides to visit the site and the remains of the old Globe Theatre. All he finds is a plaque on the wall of a brewery commemorating the famous thaeter. 1969 Sam Wanamaker starts campaigning to rebuild the Globe theatre. 1970 Sam Wanamaker establishes the "Globe Playhouse Trust" an educational charity, in order to raise funds for the building of a replica theatre. HRH Prince Philip is Patron of the Shakespeare Globe Trust 1970 Southwark council provides a 1.2 acre site for the project beside the River Thames, opposite St. Paul's Cathedral. Approximately 200 yards from the site of the original Globe theatres 1970 The key architect Theo Crosby, and his firm, Pentagram are appointed to design the replica of the Globe 1970 - 1987 The architects research the designs of other master builders of Shakespeare's time. 1972 The Bear Gardens Museum opens with permanent exhibition of 16th and 17th century theatre history 1982 Professor John Orrell provides new evidence on the shape and dimensions of the Globe by the analysis of a 1647 map of London by Wenceslas Hollar 1985 The "Friends of Shakespeare's Globe" is founded. 1987 The site is cleared in readiness for the new construction works. 1987 Excavation of the site begins 1987 The "diaphragm" wall, on the side of the theatre closest to the Thames, is constructed to keep the water out. 1988 The project runs out of money. Doubts whether it would be possible to raise the enormous amount of money required for the project . 1989 The Globe's original foundations were discovered on Bankside, about two hundred metres from the reconstruction site, together with those of the Rose Theatre. 1989 95% of the site of the original Globe is covered by a nineteenth century listed building at 1/15 Anchor Terrace, Southwark Bridge Road 1989 Theo Crosby presents an idea called, "direct building." The idea was to build the project phase by phase as money came in. 1989 The Globe Playhouse Trust funds produced ideas to raise money through donations including paving stones engraved with a donator's name, laid on the piazza amongst those sponsored by celebrities such as Sir Laurence Olivier & Sir Anthony Hopkins 1989 The Globe's Education department officially comes into being. 1991 Construction work begins on the foundations of the theatre complex and on the Piazza. 1993 Construction work begins on the theatre itself. 1993 The first performance at the new thater is made by the Bremer Shakespeare Company after the temporary stage is dedicated by Sir John Gielgud. 1993 18th Dec Sam Wanamaker CBE, dies. 1994 12th September Theo Crosby dies 1994 August - The theatre opened its doors for visitors and between 1994 and 1996, over 300,000 visitors came to see the thater under construction 1995 April - First International Conference subject - Within this Wooden 'O' 1995 16th Oct The National Lottery donates 12.4 million pounds to the Globe Trust to fund the completion of Globe, foyer areas and ancillary facilities. 1996 January - Mark Rylance is appointed artistic director 1996 August 21, 1996 the New Shakespeare's Globe reopened with a short, unofficial season performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona 1996 December The Globe was awarded the European Tourism Initiative Golden Star Award by the European Federation of Associations of Tourism Journalists. 1996 September 10-11 - Second International Conference - "Shakespeare and Tudor Theatrical Traditions" 1997 19th - 20th April A team of blacksmiths forge the finishing touches to the ornamental gates facing on to the River Thames. 1997 27th May - The first performance of the Preview Season starts. The Opening Season includes Shakespeare's Henry V and The Winter's Tale1997 April - May - The stage is built, the Frons Scenae and Heavens are built then thatched and painted. 1997 7th June - The Festival of Firsts begins; marking the official opening of the new Globe Theatre. 1997 June 12 - Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, inaugurates the Globe. 1998 June to September the second season, featuring Shakespeare's As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice 1999 Winter-Spring - Work begins on the exhibition in the undercroft and on the Millennium footbridge which now links Bankside to Saint Paul's Cathedral and the City 2003 May 7th - Zoe Wannamaker receives a Southwark Blue Plaque award on behalf of her father. 2003 13th June - The Blue Plaque was unveiled outside the theater The New London Theater Timeline - History of events
The following links provide additional information about the new and the old theatres, enabling detailed comparisons to be made between the structures. The description and history of the famous theatre and all other Elizabethan theatres together with some interesting pictures are also available via the link to Location Map & Descriptions of Elizabethan Theatres. The theatres we have included are The Boar's Head Theatre, Red Bull Theater, The Hope, Blackfriars, White Hart Inn, Bell Inn Theater, The Bear Garden, Salisbury Court, The Cockpit, Whitefriars, Bull Inn , Bell Savage Theater, Cross Keys Inn , Paul's Theatre, George Inn Theatre and the Bull Ring.
Shakespeare's London History Lives On If you take a vacation to London do something really different. Live Shakespeare's London's history today. The New Globe Theatre is a major London attraction for anyone taking a vacation to London. A tour of the New Globe theatre and a visit to the Bear Garden Museum will provide you with a real 'feel' for Shakespeare's London and its history. But your vacation and tour of London can take you much further. The history of the theatres that were prominent during the life of Shakespeare is fascinating and we have provided a London Map detailing the theatres that Shakespeare would have most certainly known and visited and quite probably have acted in - the history of London comes to life. Many will be surprised to know that original Elizabethan inn-yards still exist in London and are still in use as London pubs. We have provided details in the link to visiting the New Globe Theater - a London vacation with a difference - experience the secret history of the city. The history of Shakespeare will come to life - plan your tour and vacation around the many forgotten sites of Shakespeare's Secret London.
The New London Globe Theater Timeline History - Dates - Shakespeare - Timeline - Bear Garden Museum - Sam Wanamaker - Reconstruction