The Globe Theatre
A lifelong dream of mine has been to see a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre, and I am so excited to say that it has been completed. After a morning spent in the classroom, and the afternoon spent catching up on homework, we trecked across town, over millennium bridge, to the Globe Theatre that sits right on the south side of the Thames. Among the more modern buildings, this replica of the original theatre stands out, not only in its white colour but also in its architecture. This season, the Globe is putting on Hamlet, and the Two Kinsmen. We went to see the latter, a lesser known comedy which has elements also found in A Midsummer Nights Dream.
I don't want to spoil the play, but the gist of the plot is based around a war between the Greek city-states of Thebes and Athens. Two princes of Thebes go off to fight and then fall in love with a princess of Athens. While they are fighting each other over the love of a woman who is not interested in either of them, there is a minor character who has fallen in love with one of the princes. Everyone seems to be chasing everyone else and the whole thing turns into a comedic goose chase. The whole experience was made better by the fact that I had the opportunity to be a "groundling," or rather a person who has a standing ticket. It was the cherry on top, to really experience the play up close and to interact with the actors as they came down into the crowd. I loved every minute of our excursion, and have been geeking out about it since.
I find it fascinating that William Shakespeare has had such a large mark on history. Other writers have had a part to play, and are remembered, but none of the great English writers that come to my mind seemed to have the renowned while they were alive, save perhaps Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shakespeare is often hailed as the greatest writer who has ever lived, which is quite the title for a man who lived about 400 years ago. I would say that his legacy has had a marginal effect on the British identity, but when I think of the UK, he's not the first thing or person that comes to mind. I think that perhaps he is more reflected in the English language than the feeling of English or British nationalism. I mention the English language because there are far more people in the world who speak English than there are people who would claim English as their identity or British as their identity. Without Shakespeare, we would have a totally different way of speaking. So many of our idioms and cliches came from his writings. If he'd lived now said he'd be rich just based on the commission of how often his invented phrases and words are used. The fact that one man had such an impact on history blows my mind. He really was a poor man who no one knew about until he became the Bard we have remembered ever since.
The modern replica of the old globe was erected in 1998, but despite the fact that it's only 20 years old, it has the feeling of authenticity. 
I don't want to spoil the play, but the gist of the plot is based around a war between the Greek city-states of Thebes and Athens. Two princes of Thebes go off to fight and then fall in love with a princess of Athens. While they are fighting each other over the love of a woman who is not interested in either of them, there is a minor character who has fallen in love with one of the princes. Everyone seems to be chasing everyone else and the whole thing turns into a comedic goose chase. The whole experience was made better by the fact that I had the opportunity to be a "groundling," or rather a person who has a standing ticket. It was the cherry on top, to really experience the play up close and to interact with the actors as they came down into the crowd. I loved every minute of our excursion, and have been geeking out about it since.
I find it fascinating that William Shakespeare has had such a large mark on history. Other writers have had a part to play, and are remembered, but none of the great English writers that come to my mind seemed to have the renowned while they were alive, save perhaps Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Shakespeare is often hailed as the greatest writer who has ever lived, which is quite the title for a man who lived about 400 years ago. I would say that his legacy has had a marginal effect on the British identity, but when I think of the UK, he's not the first thing or person that comes to mind. I think that perhaps he is more reflected in the English language than the feeling of English or British nationalism. I mention the English language because there are far more people in the world who speak English than there are people who would claim English as their identity or British as their identity. Without Shakespeare, we would have a totally different way of speaking. So many of our idioms and cliches came from his writings. If he'd lived now said he'd be rich just based on the commission of how often his invented phrases and words are used. The fact that one man had such an impact on history blows my mind. He really was a poor man who no one knew about until he became the Bard we have remembered ever since.
The modern replica of the old globe was erected in 1998, but despite the fact that it's only 20 years old, it has the feeling of authenticity. 
The stage was a beautiful mix between a palace and the forest, which is where the play takes place.
The theatre has 4 tiers where the audience can view the play, the first being on the ground, then three tiers of benched seating. None are super comfortable but it's still so fun.
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