The Globe’s Design and Layout Flashcards

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What basic shape was the Globe Theatre, and what main materials was it built from?

It was a roughly circular (many-sided) wooden building. It had oak timber walls and a thatched roof over the galleries.

About how many people could the Globe hold when it was full?

It could hold about 2,500 to 3,000 people. Most stood in the yard, and the rest sat in the galleries.

What was the open space in the middle of the Globe called, and who stood there?

It was called the yard or pit. Poorer spectators, known as groundlings, stood there to watch the play.

How many levels of galleries did the Globe have, and what were they used for?

It had three levels of covered galleries around the yard. Wealthier people sat there on benches to watch the plays.

Where was the main stage in the Globe, and how did it stick out into the audience?

The main stage was raised at one side of the yard. It stuck out into the yard so actors were surrounded on three sides by the audience.

What was the ‘heavens’ in the Globe’s design?

The ‘heavens’ was a painted wooden roof above part of the stage, held up by pillars. It hid special effects and helped to keep actors dry in the rain.

What was the tiring house, and where was it in the Globe?

The tiring house was the backstage area behind the stage. Actors used it to change costumes, store props, and enter or leave the stage.

What were trapdoors in the Globe’s stage used for?

Trapdoors in the floor (and sometimes in the ‘heavens’) let actors appear and disappear suddenly. They were used for effects like ghosts, witches, or people coming up from ‘hell’.

How did the Globe’s open-air design affect lighting during plays?

The Globe had no roof over the yard. Natural daylight lit the stage, so plays were performed in the afternoon.

How did the Globe’s layout help most people see and hear the actors?

The raised stage stuck out into the yard, and the galleries rose up around it. The wooden walls helped carry sound, so people all around could see and hear the actors.

Where in London was the Globe built, in terms of its physical setting?

The Globe stood on the south bank of the River Thames at Bankside, just outside the City of London. There was space there for a large, open-air theatre.

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