image by Pete Loeser,8 August 2023Based on this photo
Last modified: 2023-08-19 by rob raeside
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image by Pete Loeser,8 August 2023
Based on this photo
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The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theater called simply "The Theatre" at Shoreditch near the south bank of the Thames River. It is most famous because it is where William Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, first produced the bards' plays. It was destroyed by fire 14 years later in 1613 and a second Globe Theatre was built 1614.
When first opened the Globe Theatre was owned by the actors who were in the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Besides the plays of Shakespeare the works of Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker and John Fletcher were also performed at the Globe.
The second Globe Theatre lasted until the London theatre closures of 1642. Today a modern reconstruction of the Globe, called "Shakespeare's Globe," is located about 750 feet from the original site and opened in 1997.
Source: Wikipedia: Globe Theatre.
Pete Loeser, 11 August 2023
A variety of flags were used at the Globe, and other theatres, in the 16th century London. The type of flag indicated the author of the play being preformed. I thought the flag for Shakespeare's plays was a white elongated, swallow-tailed pennant, bearing a golden yellow swan.
Jim Ferrigan, 10 January 2003
image located by Pete Loeser, 8 August 2023 (source)
Pictures of theatres in London from Shakespeare's time show flags flying above them; they seem to be plain red (or some other color, perhaps white). Flags flew when plays were performed, perhaps beforehand so people would know to come. There are no close-up pictures of the Globe; the swan flag may have flown over the Swan Theatre.
Nathan Lamm, 10 January 2003
I agree that the swan flag would have flown over the Swan Theatre. The flags were basically signals that on a certain day there would be performances. These were, of course, the days before mass communications and the flag that would be flown would be important as one could tell which theatre was holding a play. Advertising was prohibited, so the theatre owners would raise a flag and herald a trumpet fanfare signalling the imminent start of a production. The flag's color indicated the type of play: black signified tragedy; white, comedy; and red, history.
I have also heard the concept of a globe held by Atlas was used as a symbol of the Globe Theatre, but to what extent? A photograph of the new Globe Theatre flag (not too clear) can be seen in this photo, but is
unlikely the original design.
Phil Nelson, 10 January 2003
According to several sources a flag of Hercules with the globe was raised above the theatre with the Latin motto totus mundus agit histrionem (all the world's a playhouse) but this seems a bit contrived.
"By May 1599, the new theatre was ready to be opened. Burbage named it the Globe after the figure of Hercules carrying the globe on his back - for in like manner the actors carried the Globe's framework on their backs across the Thames. A flag of Hercules with the globe was raised above the theatre with the Latin motto 'totus mundus agit histrionem', or 'all the world's a playhouse'." (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust)A more modern flag shows both Hercules and Atlas holding up the globe. According to legend Atlas challenged Hercules to prove his strength by taking the globe from him, then didn't want it back. Then clever Hercules fooled him into taking it back for a minute so he could kneel down to adjust his shoe laces. This mythical drama is what the Globe Theatre was named after. I've not been able to get a more detailed picture of the modern flag showing them both holding up the earth (yet).
image by Pete Loeser, 8 August 2023
Based on this photo
A friend of Rob Raeside who was visiting London sent him a photo of this red flag with a white ring seen outside the Globe Theatre on the Embankment and asked "Could this be the flag of the theatre?" The answer is yes, it is the most recent branding logo used by "Shakespeare's Globe."
Pete Loeser, 8 August 2023
image by Pete Loeser,8 August 2023
Based on this photo
This Shakespeare's Globe Banner uses a white New Branding logo on a red background. The text is also white and my guess would be we will be see similar banners with different messages and backgrounds of the traditions colors of red, black and white.
Pete Loeser,8 August 2023
image by Pete Loeser, 9 August 2023
Based on this photo located by Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
This Shakespeares's Globe Banner has a white circle on black, with a white inscription: "SHAKESPEARE'S | GLOBE."
Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
image by Pete Loeser, 9 August 2023
Based on this photo located by Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
Variants of this banner exists with with alternative white text. Examples of alternative inscriptions used during the 1997 season are: "THEATRE SEASON | April-October" and "SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE" printed as a single line to name a few. Photo image source: Wikimedia Commons.
Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
image by Pete Loeser, 9 August 2023
Based on this photo located by Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
Globe Theatre Banner with red logo on black, inscription (white): "GLOBE | THEATRE." Photo image source: themeritclub.com
(The inscriptions of the banners next to it are not discernible)
Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
image by Pete Loeser, 9 August 2023
Based on this photo located by Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
Illustrators Note: The colors are correct, the placement of the circles are not, each flag was a bit different.
Globe Theatre Artistic banners with parts of circles in different sizes, 3 variants: black circles on red, red circles on white, red circles on black. Source: londonseite.de.
Martin Karner, 9 July 2023
