United Kingdom
Shakespeare's Globe Theater inherits the history and continues the traditions of one of the world's most famous companies. The idea of reviving the legendary Globe belongs to the American Sam Wanamaker. He came to London in 1949, and about 20 years he collected materials about the theaters of the Elizabethan era with like-minded people. In 1970 he founded the Shakespeare's Globe Shakespeare Trust. Work on the project then continued for more than a quarter of a century. Sam Wanamaker died four years before its completion. In 1997, the theater reopened under the name Shakespeare's Globe. Actor Mark Rylance became the artistic director. He was succeeded in 2006 by director Dominic Dromgoole.
Many of the artistic principles followed by the modern company are aimed at reviving the traditions of the old Globe, which appeared on the banks of the Thames in 1599. It was built from the wooden structures of the first public London theater "Theater", which belonged to the company of actors Berbedge. The price of renting the land under the "Theater" increased, and it was decided to build a new building on a new site, it is believed that the leading playwright of the troupe, William Shakespeare, was also involved in this decision.
In 1613 there was a fire during Henry VIII's premiere, the first Globe burned to the ground. The second was built of stone. Troupe Berbedge continued to play here until 1642, - the time of the decree of the Puritan Parliament on the closure of theaters. In 1644, the building was rebuilt for rent. History was interrupted for more than three centuries.
The first "Globe" was a typical building public Elizabethan theater of the early XVII century in the form of an oval Roman amphitheater, enclosed by a high wall, without a roof. Its exact location was discovered in 1989. Shakespeare's Globe is built three hundred meters from the historic foundations. The appearance of the theater is recreated with scientific care. Maximum authenticity of architecture is combined with modern technical equipment. In a relatively short period of time for a company with such a long history, Shakespeare's Globe has won fame as one of the most popular theaters in the world.
At the VIII International Alexandrinsky Festival, Shakespeare's Globe presented a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream (October 25, 26, 2014) directed by Dominic Dromgoole.
