Shakespeare’s “Globe” survived the second play “Henry VIII”

A theater on the south bank of the Thames in London, burned to the ground during a production of the play about Henry VIII in 1613 and rebuilt in the late 1990s, staged the first version of the play that would later become popular. referred to as “Henry VIII” since that fateful day.

The first Globe Theater turned 14 years old when a stage cannon fired during a performance of a play known in its day as a visual spectacle of masks and royal ceremonies set fire to the thatched roof and destroyed the theatre.

The modern Globe, which also opened its doors in 1997 in its 14th theatrical season, is now equipped with fire-resistant straw and a special fire extinguishing system, so it is unlikely to suffer the same fate.

Directed by Mark Rosenblatt and starring Dominique Rowan and Spooks actress Miranda Rayson as Ann Bullen.

“It’s rare enough to stage a play that once burned down a theater – even rarer to stage it again, for the first time, in the theater that replaced it,” Rosenblatt said on the theater’s website.

He said there was still an explosion in the production when the old Globe caught fire – during scene 4 of Act 1 – to announce the king’s entrance.

“During the technical rehearsal, we all looked up, saw the smoke seeping from the roof, and wondered maybe, just maybe, history would repeat itself. But I was quickly reminded that the new Globe has a pretty powerful sprinkler system,” said Rosenblatt.

The poet Sir Henry Wotton recorded the fire, describing how “thought at first was but idle smoke, and their eyes were more attentive to the spectacle, it ignited within and rushed like a train, swallowing the whole house to the brim in less than an hour.” very good reason.”

In 1996, the Globe Theater became the first thatched building in London since the Great Fire 330 years ago and is today recognized as one of the most famous thatched buildings in the world.

Henry VIII runs in the Globe until 21 August. It is complemented by the world premiere of Howard Brenton’s new play Anne Boleyn, which will run from July 24 to August 21.