The Shakespearean Globe theatre was next on our list of historical fun places to visit. Such a well known playwright all over the world we had to come visit where the plays were originally performed.
We were informed that being on the South Bank meant that the theater was beyond the reach of the regulations and rules dictated by the London Mayor and city of London. Plays and actors were all deemed to be dubious character of ill repute, so naturally, they were extremely popular and people wanted to have fun.
The original theatre was built in 1599, destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, and then demolished in 1644. The modern Globe Theatre reconstruction is an academic approximation based on available evidence of the 1599 and 1614 buildings. It is considered quite realistic, though contemporary safety requirements mean that it accommodates only 1,400 spectators compared to the original theatre’s 3,000.
From the photo below you can see the main stage and in front which is standing room only is the pit which is uncovered and unprotected from the London weather.
We learned about the penny stinkards where standing in the pit was uncomfortable, and people were usually packed in tightly. The groundlings were commoners who were also referred to as stinkards or penny-stinkers. The name 'groundlings' came about after Hamlet referenced them as such when the play was first performed around 1600.
Penny-stinky Hayley getting her pennies worth with a close-up of the stage which was being prepped for an upcoming show.
Some more penny-stinkards
Here are a few photos of the galleries where people with money would attend and see the plays.
Here are some people with money attending
Hey wait! That bunch look familiar! Aren't they the same penny-stinkards we saw earlier down below? I bet they robbed some unfortunate wealthy citizens of their seats!!
Well, after being ejected from the Globe Theater we decided more history and learning was the order of the day. We decided to go north across the river Thames to the city!!!
Crossing the Thames from the Globe to get to St. Pauls we used the London Millennium Footbridge.
The southern end of the bridge is near the Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while the northern end of the bridge is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.
We also discovered tiny gum art at one end the bridge which makes you wonder if the artist like the pedestrians came to a sticky end?
Here is a view of the Millennium bridge from St. Pauls
and some of our own:
Here are the miniature gum art on the bridge
St Pauls Cathedral has some much history over the centuries and close by to our flat that we wanted to drop in and say hi!
This is the view as you come over the Millennium footbridge heading north to St. Pauls.
Our stinkards trying to be patient waiting for the adults to catch up.
Street performing? Just needs a crowd.
Inside the cathedral it is stunning and we did climb the narrow stairs to grab some phenomenal views from the dome.
After this we did discover a rather quaint church which sold drugs, caffeine, as a side business!
