Globe Theatre (original site), London

If you wander down Park Street today, you鈥檒l find a humble plaque and a few story panels marking the original spot where the Globe Theatre opened its doors in 1599. Back then, this stretch was called Maiden Lane, tucked inside The Liberty of the Clink鈥攂asically a medieval no-man鈥檚-land just outside the City鈥檚 rules. At one point, the Bishop of Winchester took charge, and instead of banning the local theaters, animal fights, and brothels, he simply taxed them. A solid business model, really.

Shakespeare鈥檚 company flourished here, and about 15 of his plays鈥攊ncluding some of the biggest hits鈥攆irst hit the stage on this very ground.

Of course, no great story is complete without a little fire. On June 29, 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, a prop cannon misfired and set the place ablaze. The Globe, made of good old flammable wood and thatch, went up like a tinderbox. Miraculously, nobody was hurt鈥攅xcept for one poor guy whose flaming trousers were put out with a well-aimed bottle of ale. (Talk about happy hour.)

The Globe was rebuilt the next year, but sadly, by 1644 it was demolished to make way for housing. Fast forward to our days: Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe, the modern reconstruction, opened its doors in 1997鈥攚ith Henry V, naturally鈥攑roving that not even a fire, a bishop, or centuries of urban sprawl could keep Shakespeare鈥檚 spirit off the stage...

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Sight Name: Globe Theatre (original site)
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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