I really enjoyed going to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Comedy of Errors! I enjoyed the plays a lot more than I thought I would, I have never been big Shakespeare fan because I get confused when trying to read and understand the language, but watching the plays are so much different which I think made them much more enjoyable for me I finally understood what was happening because I could see it happening instead of just guessing what was happening while reading words I didn’t know the meaning of.
I also really liked the design elements of the space, the stage was beautiful, I liked the balcony where the musicians played and the 3 couples watched the play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I loved the pillars (except when I couldn’t see around them in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, until I moved) I thought that the ceiling was very creative because it looked like you were looking up into the sky and could see consultations and what I think to be some of the zodiac signs. I love the idea of the open space theatre like the one in Regents Park, and I like the idea to perform the plays during the day so you can use the natural light. The only downside to using the natural light as an audience member is that I had the sun straight in my eyes for most of Comedy of Errors, I think because I had the sun in my eyes and I was very uncomfortably warm that made the show a little less enjoyable for me. That being said I still think it was a great production and I really enjoyed the show. Another thing I thought was interesting was that everyone was double casted in both shows, I loved trying to figure out who was who and which characters that they played. Also, I enjoyed how the characters would interact with the audience and leave the stage and move around in the standing room section.
I felt very lucky to be able to see these shows in such a historic place that has been around for such a long time, sure the seats were very uncomfortable and left me sore for a few hours after the show, and standing would probably be just as bad, but I got to see a few productions that pleasantly surprised me. Back in Fayetteville when we had to read Comedy of Errors and write a scene analysis, I think that helped me understand this play a lot more. Overall, I really liked seeing the plays at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre much more than I thought. I would recommend that anyone go see a play there even if you don’t like Shakespeare that much, just go for the experience and to see such a cool and historic theatre space.
Theatre in London U of A 