Fire Destroys the Globe Theatre

On this day, the original Globe theatre in London, where most of William Shakespeare’s plays debuted, was destroyed by fire during a performance of All is True (known to modern audiences as Henry VIII). Shakespeare had just turned 49 and was at the height of his career with no fewer than six of his works having recently been performed at court. The fire started when a theatrical cannon, set off during the performance, misfired, igniting the wooden beams and thatching. Within minutes the fire had run around the inside of the roof ‘like a train’, and the Globe was doomed. Fortunately, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches were put out with a bottle of ale. The theatre was rebuilt the following year, but it would seem that the shock of the fire had a lasting effect on Shakespeare’s health as he died just two years after the theatre reopened.

Puoi trovare altre brevi notizie storiche QUI

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