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Shakespeare’s plays were usually performed at the Globe, a huge, open-air circular theatre on the south bank of the River Thames in London.
The Globe could hold 3,000 people. There were two performances a day, in the afternoon, because the only lighting was daylight.

A flag was flown during a performance.

The Globe was built around a yard. Here stood the poorer spectators called « the groundlings ». They weren’t sheltered from the rain, but they were nearest to the action on the stage. They often booed actors when they didn’t like the play. When they had a great time, they clapped and cheered the actors.
There were three levels of galleries around the yard. Gallery seats were expensive.

The stage was a large and empty platform, there was no scenery.
The actors entered through two stagedoors at the back. Behind them were dressing rooms, where the actors got changed.
Two wooden pillars supported the roof over the stage and the ceiling was called « the heavens ». It was painted with sun, moon and stars.
Above the stage was a balcony which was mostly used by musicians.
The stage had a trap door, through which actors could appear or disappear. The cellarage underneath was called « hell ».

The Globe was built of wood, with a thatched roof. In 1613, a spark from a cannon set fire to the thatch and the building was destroyed.

« Gatherers » stood at the entrance with boxes to collect admission money. That is why a ticket office is called a « box office ».

vocabulary:
a flag
a yard
galleries
the stage
stagedoors
dressing rooms
pillars
the heavens
a balcony
a trap
hell
a thatched roof
the entrance