From hell to heaven: unseen views of the Globe Theatre | Autumn 2020 | Globe magazine | Shakespeare's Globe

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Globe Magazine

by Greg Morrison

25 November 2020

1 minute read

Members’ room Globe magazine Autumn 2020

A narrow, steep staircase leads down to a basement, with a 'mind your head' sign above it — The stairway to hell, taking you beneath the stage. Mind your head.

Items of wooden staging and barrels are stored in a basement room — Various pieces of theatrical equipment are kept beneath the stage.

A grey electrical box, with lightswitches covered in homemade labels — A board of light switches backstage in the Globe Theatre.

A basement heaving with stage props and costumes — A treasure trove of costumes and props can be found in the belly of the Globe.

A discarded ruff lies in a laundry basket.

Mock marble and bright coloured details of the stage roof — A detail of the ornate decorations found on the roof of the Globe Theatre stage.

A shot of the sky taken from the Globe stage, with the upper circle visible — What you see when you look up in the Globe Theatre.

Black text goes across a wooden beam above a door — Between Heaven and Hell, behind this door, you’ll find the Musician’s Room.

A mirror fixed to the side of a staircase reveals a view of a stage door — A mirror on the ladder to heaven reflects one of the doors onto the stage.

Brightly coloured costumes on mannequins beside technical equipment emitting light — Costumes from the previous season are temporarily being stored in the upper levels of the Globe.

Metals rigs in an attic-like space — At the very top of the Globe Theatre, this pulley system is used to lower actors and props down from the ceiling.

FINIS.

Three actors face the camera smiling

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This article forms part of the Autumn 2020 issue of Globe magazine, exclusively for Shakespeare’s Globe Members.