Shakespeare's Globe Center--USA: Center for Globe Research

Architectural information on the current reconstruction--ISGC Site Details

The new Globe's designers, in their quest to reproduce as close a copy to Shakespeare's original as possible, took particular care with the design of the stage. Unfortunately, authentic evidence on the Globe's stage is just as rare as with other parts of the famous theatre.

Scholars have long debated the shape and appearance of the Elizabethan stage. One of the only contemporary depictions comes from a German traveler named De Witt, who sketched the Swan's stage on the back of a napkin. Miraculously, a version of it copied by a friend of De Witt's survives today, although the sketch is rough and a second hand source.

An intriguing view of a similar stage comes from an embroidery from Hardwick Castle in England. The needlework is certainly contemporary to Shakespeare's day, but historians are unsure as to which stage (if any specific one) appears in it. Note the similarities and differences to the De Witt sketch.

Here is a cross section of the finalized Globe plans, facing the stage.

Putting the plans into construction, this is the temporary stage used during the Summer 1995 Workshop Season to test design ideas while there was still time to adjust them. Again, note the similarities to the first two historical designs.

The Globe's designers took what they learned from the Workshop Season, and built this as the next step. This stage is functional and aesthetically pleasing.

This close up detail of one of the stage's pillars shows the ornateness of the design, yet the simplicity of the materials. The stage enhances the Elizabethan decor without distracting attention from a production.

This is the last temporary stage, used during the Fall 1996 Prologue Season. The stage and pillars have been painted to complete the look of the structure. After the Prologue Season, this stage was dismantled in order to complete the back of the Theatre. When rebuilt in preparation for the June 1997 Grand Opening, it will looked very similar to this.

Return to the main ISGC Complex details page

Return to the main Pictures and Images page

updated on: 25 Feb 1997

This page created by Ryan Ritter, web master 1996-1999