Globe Theater plays - yes or no?

We toured but did not see a play. The dealbreaker for us was the seating-no seat backs. My back would not handle that.

We loved our play experience! Romeo and Juliet! We paid 5 pounds for the groundling tickets and had our elbows on the stage! Fantastic! If your back needs a back on your seat reserve early and some have them as long as you are willing to pay more.

I'm glad I went but it's not a normal theater experience. In the back row there is a wall to lean against.

Positives: It's authentic and festive, more interaction between audience and stage

Negatives: Unfortunately a lot of these, unruly atmosphere with food everywhere after intermission so lots of chewing, unwrapping, and slurping of straws, had to fend off a groundling who wanted to squeeze into our row, hard seat surface, during periods of rain those exposed to the rain open their ponchos and you can't hear for the 60 seconds that takes to complete (repeated when it stops raining, then when it starts again, etc.). Columns block the view of parts of the stage, but ticket price reflects that.

Probably should either spring for the most expensive seats up a level with seat back and protected from rain, or get the 5 pound tickets and you won't feel bad if you decide to leave. In any event bring something to put on if it gets chilly.

The Globe has a strong presence which some think improves the performance and others (me) think it interferes.

Hi Nicole -

Going to the Globe is one of our favourite things to do when in London, been several times to see various different plays - Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Henry V. I too worried about my back (and also, it must be added, my most padded asset) on the hard wooden seats, but it is possible to hire a cushion/backrest for a fee and I wouldn’t skimp by not getting that. We’ve been lucky with the weather aspect too, but when you are in an authentic recreation which is open to the sky, you need to be prepared. Authenticity can go only so far and even on a dry, sunny evening, you’ll still get some noise pollution from the airliners lining up over London on their final approach to Heathrow!

Also worth a visit if the main theatre is closed is the Wanamaker Theatre, a Jacobean theatre recreation. With a roof! It also has wooden seats but there is some back support. It is rather smaller than the Globe proper, so has a smaller audience/ticket availability. And of course you need to decide if what is playing is what you would like to see. Our visit was to see a play about Handel writing/staging ‘Messiah’ - I’m afraid the title eludes me for the moment - complete with gallery mounted chamber orchestra. It was magical. I did have pause about the theatre being built of wood and lit by candles, but it did create a wonderful atmosphere!

I’d say doing the tour and not going to see a performance was only half the job done. After all, “the play’s the thing”!

Have a great trip.

Ian

One of my favorite things to do in London. I try for tickets every summer I visit (depending on which plays are playing). A Midsummer Night's Dream from a few summers ago ranks as one of my most enjoyable experiences in a theatre. And I was not alone based on the laughter in the theatre.

I have never stood nor been on the first floor. I am usually mid- or top-tier and sometimes have had seats with partially blocked views. I do not recall slurping or paper crackling. I do recall chuckling when some women in the next booth sent their young boys for snacks when Macbeth and his Lady were getting quite affectionate.

I seem to prefer the matinees - just based on my personal schedules. Yes, sometimes a helicopter goes over. But then, yes, a Beyonce snippet was included in Dream, and the lovers were Hackney Hipsters.

I have only ever taken one theatre tour and that was of the National Theatre, London. I was bored stiff, so I will not be touring the Globe. Going to the plays - Yes!! Why not visit to their website or search for images of the theatre to get a realistic view of seating? You can rent little cushions for a nominal fee.

I find that most Shakespeare is tedious and far too long - probably because it was rammed down our throats at school. I don’t enjoy standing for hours for anything. The building is interesting. Give me a proper theatre with a seat.

Perhaps the play itself is the most important part. I'd done the tour several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also saw a matinee performance of Midsummer Night's Dream in 2016. I wear my "What fools these mortals be" tee often. I got my reservation early enough to be able to choose what I thought was a good seat.

I was on the first row of the first balcony, so I could easily shift around and lean on the rail. I could have used 3 butt pads instead of the one I got. Apparently my personal padding wasn't as adequate as I thought it would be.

If the play is something you want to see and if you want to see it in a venue that hints at what it was like when it was first performed, go for it.

I'm not sure why the reviews might be mixed. Perhaps it's the theater itself or perhaps it's because the interpretations may be more modern than expected. Dream was definitely not what some might think it should have been. I loved it because it was not traditional.

I'll echo Emma's comments. Shakespeare isn't easy. If you haven't been to a performance, maybe watch part of one on youtube or get one on DVD from your library.

And thanks to those who suggested the Wanamaker. I'm planning a trip and see that The Taming of the Shrew is on during my stay.

I saw Taming of the Shrew at the Globe in 2012, and it was terrific! We had seats in the top tier to the far left of the stage, and it turned out our tickets were for the only day in our London stay that had no rain.

As an English lit major in college, I fully enjoyed the play, but even my not-necessarily Shakespeare appreciating mom really liked it. The entire crowd was into it, both us in the seats and the groundlings.

Thank you all for your help!

We recently returned from a trip to London and saw "As You Like It" at the Globe.

We opted for the seats & not groundling tickets, as we were spending the day sightseeing on our feet and would be tired of standing.

It's a unique play experience. Try and pick a play that you will enjoy, or at the very least read a good summary before you go so you can follow the plot. (The English accents, the Shakespearean language, and the random noises and such from the theater will hinder your ability to follow the words spoken).

It's worth your time in London, if anything for something that you really can't see anywhere else in the world.

something that you really can't see anywhere else in the world.

True, but seeing a performance at the Elizabethan theatre in Ashland OR (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) is a treat and closer to home for many.