Potters Bar Town Twinning Assocaition

Twinned with Viernheim & Franconville

Globe Theatre 31st May 2005

On Saturday 31st May 16 members left Barnet Station to a trip to The Globe Theatre. Having arrived at London Bridge Station the main objective was coffee. This was enjoyed in the refectory of Southwark Cathedral. (The Danish pastries were superb!)

Then it was a walk along the South Bank to the Globe. London was busy and at its best in the bright sunshine. We past the replica of the Golden Hinde Ship which is moored nearby also on the way was the old Clink Prison, now a restaurant.

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On to the Globe, I visited the building before it was finished and was very interested to see the finished result. It is a marvellous building built of new oak wood from all over the country. Sam Wanamaker’s dream certainly came true, a big pity he didn’t see it finished.

Our guide Susan, a Canadian lady who was member of the Globe cast kept us enthralled with her knowledge of Shakespeare and indeed the history of the original Globe Theatre which was built a little way from the present one.

After her talk she took us into the theatre itself. Rehearsals were in progress for Pericles, Prince of Tyre which along with The Winter’s Tale is on the agenda for this season.

I was surprised how old and mature the building was. It certainly has weathered well. It is bigger than I thought but does hold nearly 2000 people, both sitting and standing in the yard.

After the tour we split up, some going to the Exhibition at the Globe and then to a pub for lunch.

I along with Myra and Eileen went to the Tate Modern for lunch and then a lovely walk over the wobbly bridge back across Blackfriars Bridge to go to the OXO building. Then back up the river bank to Waterloo Bridge over the river again and then home. It was a lovely day all the better by the weather. Many thanks to Elaine for organising the day, I really enjoyed it.

By Ann Daniell