Globe theater in London
Apr 28th, 2002, 04:33 AM
#1
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Globe theater in London
My family is travelling to London this summer. We have 2 older boys 17 and 12. What play at the Globe would you suggest? Midsummers Night's Dream, Twelfth Night or The Golden Ass? They are all playing in the summer at different days and times. Also I was looking up prices and excuse me if i do not know but what does with concession mean? My son says it means you get a free hotdog but i don't think so. Ha Ha Also could you do the tour in the same day and spend the whole day there. Thinking of buying tickets ahead and forwarding them to my hotel since they do not send outside Uk even if booked in advance. Thank you everyone for all your help. Jill
Apr 28th, 2002, 05:11 AM
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A Midsummer Night's Dream is hilarious, I think the boys would enjoy that one. There are several switched-identities things going on and it would help to read up on it first. Certainly not "Golden Ass," as it's not by the Bard himself. <BR><BR>We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, yes you should do this before the play. Also, the Globe has a surprisingly extensive museum attached, which we wished we'd allowed more time for -- info on Elizabethan life and theater, Shakespeare's education and personal life, crafts, etc. We certainly could have happily made a day of it, there are a couple of places to eat right there.<BR><BR>If you're buying in advance, buy seats rather than "yard" (groundlings) in case of bad weather -- the show goes on, regardless. The theater is so small, no views are significantly better than others -- if you get seats in the back row, you'll have a wall to lean against. Plan on bringing a cushion or renting one of theirs (£1).<BR><BR>FYI, the tube and most attractions in Britain charge children's rates for kids through age 15.
Apr 29th, 2002, 05:18 AM
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Jill, we did this with our boys when they were about the same age as yours. It really was one of their best memories. I ordered and payed for the seats and picked them up at will call, just before performance time. We visited the Tower in the AM and then had lunch and went to the matinee performance (we only had one full day in London). We also sprang for the optional seat cushions they rent as the benches would have gotten guite hard. It did rain during the performance (June) and the patrons in the yard did get wet. After the performance we spent quite a bit of time outside the theater checking out the engraved paving stones (Patrick Stewart was the favorite). We didn't make it into the museum because of our schedule, but it would have been interesting. have FUN!
Apr 29th, 2002, 05:25 AM
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Several members of Monty Python sponsored paving stones, too. One of them paid double so that the Globe would misspell Michael Palin's name, and sure enough it's misspelled on his paver. Or at least that the reason the tour guide gave! The wrought-iron gate in that area has images of all the animal species mentioned in Shakespeare's works.
May 7th, 2002, 11:57 AM
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well, I'll definitely have to check out the bricks when i'm there.<BR><BR>a practical question: i'm planning on getting groundling tickets (can't find them online now but hopefully they will still be available) and several people have advised rushing to the stage just as they open. The evening play I want to see starts at 7:30 - so when do they open the doors?
May 7th, 2002, 12:14 PM
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If you get groundling tickets, hope you have more stamina than I. You do know, I hope, that you stand for the entire performance in the sun (if in the afternoon). There is nothing to lean on, and you are not allowed to sit on the ground. Some people near the stage tried to at least rest their arms on the stage, but an usher came by and made them move back. The last time I was there, there was a brief rain and of course, you are not allowed to open umbrellas if you are a groundling. After the rain the sun came out and it got quite hot. After intermission that area was pretty empty. Most people left.
May 7th, 2002, 12:23 PM
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The Globe's web site had no seats for MND during the 5 days in mid-July that we're visiting London, so I called the box office (number given on Globe's web site) and managed to get two on the first tier. Availability was fairly limited so to avoid waiting for possible returns an hour before the show at the box office, would suggest booking sooner rather than later...and try calling if the web site says no seats available.
May 7th, 2002, 01:09 PM
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yes, i've heard all about the particulars of the yard tickets, but the english major in me is just dying to experience a play there, even if it's only for a little while. <BR><BR>Any reviews on Twelfth Night won't be out until shortly before my trip - I'll be there the week of May 20th - so I didn't really want to lay out 20GBP or more on what could turn out to be a turkey. The long-range forecasts are calling for showers on my theater days (a bit of a downer for the yard) but I'll live as long as it's not a downpour.<BR><BR>Either way, I wouldn't feel too bad about leaving early on a 5-quid ticket. I'll have already read the $5 paperback version by then... 
May 7th, 2002, 05:41 PM
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Alex - don't pay any attention to long range forecasts for London. TOMORROW is sometimes too far out for accurate forecasts. The weather is very changeable. <BR><BR>When I go to the Globe I get there about 90 minutes before curtain and eat in one of the two restaurants. Both have great views of the river. <BR><BR>BTW - it isn't just famous thespians who have bricks - I sponsored a brick a few years ago. It's been a couple of years since I've been to the Globe but I think they are still selling brick sponsorships.
