By: Jake Keller

Stepping into the Globe Theatre is like a waltz back into the 17th century. The exposed wooden beams and thatched roof work together to transport you to medieval times, and when the performers step foot on the stage, your place in the past is solidified. 

I visited Shakespeare’s Globe to watch the classic play “Romeo and Juliet“, but the performance differed slightly from the original. Although the script was largely the same, and the plot remained, the well-known tragedy was set in the Wild West. Actors spoke in American country accents, engaged in saloon brawls, and were adorned with cowboy hats and boots. The show maintained the integrity of William Shakespeare’s original script while offering an exciting modern twist. 

The Globe Theatre first opened in 1599, and surprisingly enough, it was constructed by Shakespeare’s own company of actors, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. It burned down in 1613 after a cannon misfired during a performance of “Henry VIII”, and it was rebuilt a year later. Unfortunately, the Globe only stood for another 30-odd years before it was demolished to make room for housing, as the Puritans who had obtained power in Parliament deemed theatrical performances “sinful”. 

In 1971, actor and director Sam Wanamaker embarked on a journey to fulfil his dream of reconstructing the Globe. While this endeavor took over 20 years of fundraising and research, construction of the new Globe Theatre was finalized in 1997. The theatre that stands now is merely a replica of the original. It’s about half the size of the Globe where Shakespeare set foot, and despite being near the original site, it was not built in the exact location. Nonetheless, these small details are obsolete in comparison to the work Wanamaker did to bring the magic of the original playhouse back to life in our time.  

The performances are raw. Rather than focusing on over-the-top set design and lighting, they focus on the play itself. The actors don’t wear microphones, but the emotion in their voices carries throughout the house. The audience interacted with the show like none I had ever seen before. There was endless laughter and audible gasping. The performers artfully broke the fourth wall, and at one point, Mercutio sat on the edge of the stage, bending down slowly to kiss a member of the audience right in front of my eyes. He pulled back sharply, and the audience roared with delight. 

If you’re visiting London, I strongly encourage a trip to the Globe. I found that even those who do not usually enjoy theatre found a deeper appreciation after the show’s conclusion. There is perhaps no more authentic a representation of what a Shakespearean play may have felt like circa 1613. We have added modern comforts, but when you dial in to the performance itself, coupled with the atmosphere of the gorgeous theatrical space, you are truly sent on a journey back in time.