393 years ago, on June 29th 1613, one of the most famous theatres in the world was destroyed by fire.

The Globe theatre on London's South Bank was the theatrical home of William Shakespeare. In this edition of Entertainment Callum Robertson goes to the modern reconstruction and interviews the director of Globe Education, Patrick Spottiswoode.

Before you listen to the interview look at these comprehension questions. You can hear the answers in the programme. Check your understanding by trying the quiz from the Extras section below.

1: How closely does the modern Globe look like the original Globe?
2: When was the original Globe built?
3: Who paid for the original Globe?
4: What caused the fire in 1613?
5: Why wasn't Romeo and Juliet first performed at the Globe?
6: When was the modern Globe completed?

You can download the complete programme and also the script at the bottom of this page.

Listen to the programme
	The Globe

Words and expressions from the programme

wooden
made out of wood

polygonal
with many sides

melancholic
with a feeling of sadness

oak
a kind of tree the wood from which is used in building

to gather round
to get together in a group close to somebody or something

Example
Every night on our camping holiday we gathered around the fire and told ghost stories.

a venue
a place where something happens such as a sporting arena or theatre

to be reliant (up)on
to have to trust and be dependent on

Example
Since my car was stolen I've been totally reliant on my bicycle.

a cannon
a big gun

a spark
a small piece of fire that flies out of something that is burning

thatch
natural grass like material that was used to make roofs.

Example
In some villages you can still see houses with thatched roofs.

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Extras
Try the London Life quiz
Programme script (pdf - 20k)
Download this programme (mp3 - 1.8mb)
Shakespeare's Globe site

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