Wednesday, July 1, 2015

What is the Globe theatre?

Incidentally, the timber and material for The Globe was "stolen" from London's oldest and very famous venue, named, appropriately enough, "The Theatre."


The company of shareholders of which Shakespeare was a member, armed with tools, and weapons -- props borrowed from another theatre, "The Curtain," stormed onto property owned by Giles Allen, on December 28, 1598. Led by Richard and Cuthbert Burbage, they tore down the edifice of The Theatre, and carried it toward The Thames. It is unknown if Shakespeare participated.


Later, in spring of 1599, it was that material, which was sometime transported to Southwark, that used to build The Globe.


Richard and Cuthbert's father, James, entered a lease agreement with Allen. James cleverly worded a clause, specifying that while Allen owned the land, James owned The Theatre (that is the building itself).


Allen refused to renew the lease, when Burbage died, forcing the company out of The Theatre, rendering them homeless.


The shareholders quickly formed, pooled their money, and secured a 30 year lease on a parcel of land in Southwark on Christmas day, 1598. The site of The Globe.


With knowledge of the clause in the lease with Allen, and hoping the legal interpretation would side with them, they proceeded to tear the building down, with the intention of recycling the timber for their new theatre, The Globe.


Allen sued the shareholders to prevent them from using the timber, but they prevailed. Public records of these events still exist.

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