Globe Theater, William Shakespeare's Iconic Theater Is Threatened With Permanent Closure

Atmosphere at the Globe Theater (Photo: thevintagenews.com)

JAKARTA - The restrictions on activities in the UK have affected various sectors, one of which is the arts and culture sector. The closure of several businesses to curb the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the closure of the iconic Globe Theater in London, even under threat of permanent closure.

This is because the income of the art space built by William Shakespeare for the maintenance of the Globe Thetare depends on public access. It's reported that 95 percent of the revenue is generated not only through shows, but rent money for large events like weddings. This non-profit status has put him in a difficult situation with regard to government assistance. Outside of Arts Council England (ACE) patronage, the Globe Theater also failed to raise money from additional schemes.

Even before the crisis, the Global Theater experienced ups and downs of things. The Artistic Director of the Globe Theater, Michelle Terry, described that the business before the building was limited to word of mouth.

The Globe Theater has been closed since March 20, in accordance with key rules and is temporarily active online. The artists from the theater made several performances uploaded on the internet that can be watched free of charge, along with additional material such as pre-show talks and concerts.

History of the Globe Theater

Reporting from The Vintage News, Saturday 30 May, in 1613 there was a fire which had devoured the Globe Theater. Founded 14 years earlier by The Lord Chamberlain's Men (the company that houses Shakespeare's plays), the stage uses wood belonging to actor and impresario James Burbage. Shakespeare built London's first permanent theater, but left it after the lease ended. Shakespeare then received stage material and installed it at Southwark.

Sadly, at that point staging a show can be a dangerous affair. Once, when a set of stage cannons were fired to mark King Henry's entrance for the mask scene, hardly anyone in the crowd noticed that one of the cannons fired and landed on the thatched roof of the theater.

In addition, the building is made of wood which makes it easy to damage and weather. One hot, dry day, within an hour the theater was in ruins. The fire was blazing so violently that a house next to it also caught fire. Fortunately there were no casualties. Then, in 1997, the Globe Theater was rebuilt but still in a traditional style.

The theater has a unique design. Actors perform without microphones or sets, and half of the 1,500 theater-goers stand, where they can interact directly with the actors on stage. The theater was also built without a roof. So the audience could be caught in the rain or the heat.

The UK government says they are "providing unprecedented support to the cultural sector" and they are working hard to plan for the future. The push to increase public presence at the Globe Theater will begin once conditions are safe.

For Globe CEO Neil Constable, Britain's cultural landscape will be lost if the venue is closed indefinitely.

"When we emerge from this period (the outbreak of COVID-19), the world will definitely look very different. The expression of the human soul and experience through art is needed now like never before," said Constable.