Shakespeare’s Globe is one of the most extraordinary buildings in London.
The original Globe Theatre, built in 1599, was destroyed by fire in 1613 when a theatrical cannon misfired during a performance, setting its thatched roof ablaze.
When the Globe was reconstructed and reopened in 1997, every effort was made to remain faithful to the original. Traditional Tudor-style bricks were recreated using clay mixed with goat hair, the structure was built entirely from timber, no steel was used and the iconic thatched roof was restored.
That last detail is remarkable. Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, thatched roofs were effectively prohibited within the city because of the fire risk. Yet, to honour Shakespeare’s legacy, London made a rare exception for the Globe.
As Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage.” And for the Globe, London was willing to bend the rules to keep that stage alive.
Shakespeare’s Globe is more than a theatre. It is a living piece of history. Inspired by the original Globe, where many of William Shakespeare’s plays were first performed, today’s theatre stands just a short walk from its original site on London’s South Bank.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) wasn’t just England’s greatest playwright; his stories of love, ambition, jealousy, and human nature continue to speak to audiences across centuries and cultures. Watching one of his plays here felt less like visiting a landmark and more like stepping into the world that shaped theatre as we know it.
Being from the ICSE 2009 & 2010 batches, our first instinct was to look for Julius Caesar among the books and other things on sale in the shop within the globe complex. Some things just stay with you forever.
The moment we stepped into Shakespeare’s Globe, we found ourselves reminiscing about our English drama classes and our favorite teachers who first introduced us to Shakespeare. Little did we know that, years later, we’d be watching one of his plays in the very theatre that celebrates his legacy.
For those who studied under the ICSE curriculum, English wasn’t just another subject. We had two papers; English I for language, composition and comprehension, and English II for literature. English II was a three-year journey, from Class 8 right up to the board exams in Class 10, with three prescribed books for the 3 years together: a Shakespeare play, a collection of poems, and a collection of short stories. Julius Caesar in particular for myself and R.
This means we probably spent well over a thousand days reading, analysing, memorizing, performing, and living Shakespeare’s words. I don’t think there is any other syllabus in schools or colleges in India where students study the same text so intensively for three years. Perhaps that is why the Shakespeare play we learnt at school is so deeply etched in our memories.
No wonder standing in the Globe felt less like visiting a tourist attraction and more like coming home to an old friend.
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| “He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man.”- Beatrice From Shakespeare’s comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing' Act 2 scene 1 |
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“Do you not know I am a woman? When I think, I must speak.”- Rosalind From ‘As You Like It’ Act 3 Scene 2 |
