It is possible to get cheap seats in London's theatres, both in the West End, on the fringe and at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in Southwark on the South Bank. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is less than a mile from the South Bank Centre, where London's National Theatre is based, but is like traveling back in time to the age of Shakespeare himself. While tickets for its performances of plays like The Merchant of Venice, Othello and Macbeth may not quite be as cheap as in Shakespeare's day, it can be one of the best cheap seat theatre bargains in London.
For every performance of every play during the 2007 season at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 700 standing tickets are set aside at a special reduced ticket price of only £5. You do have to stand throughout the performance, but that's the way it was in Shakespeare's day. Also as in Shakespeare's time, there is no covering over the central part of the theatre where the audience stands, so be prepared.
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WET WEATHER
Performances go ahead rain or shine. It would have to be exceptionally bad weather for a performance to be canceled, so if there is any uncertainty at all about the weather, take something to protect you from the rain, if it comes.
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FUN FACTS: EAVESDROPPING
In the original Globe Theatre, which stood very close to this spot in London's Southwark, the word 'eavesdropping' originated. Because the centre of the theatre, where people stood, was open to the elements, only the poorest people went there. The wealthier patrons sat in seats which were at least partly protected by the theatre's roof. Some of the poorer theatregoers realised that if they stood near those seats, under the eaves of the roof, they could listen in on conversations and get the latest gossip and scandals of London life. They started eavesdropping.
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SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE THEATRE MIDNIGHT MATINEE
On Saturday 11th August 2007 there is a rare opportunity to attend a midnight matinee at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. That night, The Merchant of Venice will be performed under the stars, a wonderful opportunity for Londoners and London visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of the Globe Theatre after dark. The play starts at midnight and ends with an early breakfast. The Merchant of Venice stars John McEnery as Shylock, and is directed by Rebecca Gatward. The production will use Renaissance staging, costumes and music.
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AMERICAN INTEREST IN THE GLOBE'S 2007 SEASON
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre doesn't only produce Shakespeare plays, which visitors to London might not always be aware of. In their 2007 there are also three new plays, as well as performances of The Merchant of Venice, Othello and Love's Labour's Lost.
Howard Brenton's play In Extremis tells the tragic yet wonderful love story of Abelard and Heloise. Holding Fire! Is written by actor Jack Shepherd and tells the story of the Chartist Movement in a vivid and picturesque early Victorian setting.
Finally, American visitors to London might want to see We the People, written by Eric Schlosser. Schlosser is well-known for recent books like Fast Food Nation and Reefer Madness, but he is also a historian and We the People shows the events of that summer when the American Constitution was forged.
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BOOKING TICKETS
You can book tickets in person at the Globe box office, via the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre website, by phone (tel: +44 (0)20 7401 9919) or by post:
Shakespeare’s Globe Box Office
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
London SE1 9DT
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FUN FACTS: BOX OFFICE
It was in the first organised theatres like the Globe that the term 'box office' originated. When someone paid for a ticket, the money went into a box and it was shared out later. Simple!
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Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
