SAM WANAMAKER.
Explore the life and times of the founder of Shakespeare’s Globe
Samuel Wanamaker CBE (1919–1993) was an American-born actor- director who moved to the UK and founded the Shakespeare Globe Trust. He led the reconstruction of the Globe Theatre and is also remembered today in the name of our more-recently built Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
‘If you won’t do it, I will!’
It all started when Sam was 14 years old.
Whilst attending the Chicago World Fair, he saw a mock reconstruction of the original Globe theatre and his love affair with Shakespeare began.
Fast forward to 1936 and Sam’s first acting job as a student (at the Great Lakes Exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio) sees him perform in a reconstruction of the Globe. The performances were a success and it was an idea that stayed with him.
Sam standing by the original plaque that commemorated the Elizabethan playhouse.
We owe so much to Sam Wanamaker CBE (1919–1993). Photographer: Tom Boutling.
‘I was shocked to find that the site was in fact a rundown redundant riverside industrial area. I was particularly saddened, as by this time, the concept of Globe reconstructions had taken a stronghold in the US, and this was part of and contributed to a great revival and interest in Shakespeare and America’s English language heritage.’
– Sam Wanamaker
When Sam arrived in England in 1949, he was amazed to find the only commemoration of Shakespeare’s life and work in London was a dirty bronze plaque on a brewery wall in Southwark. He later wrote:
‘He needs, and we need, something more substantial than that.’
From 1969 until his death, Sam worked to provide just that: not just a recreation of the Globe theatre, but an international education and research centre, a permanent exhibition, and an indoor theatre too.
An architects illustration created of the Globe Theatre prior to construction. Design by: Pentagram.
DID YOU KNOW?
It was always Sam Wanamaker’s intention that the site of Shakespeare’s Globe should include an indoor theatre – the brick shell for the Playhouse was built at the same time as the rest of the site. It wasn’t until 2012, however, that work began to turn the shell into a playing space.
In 1989, he described the campaign:
‘Endless successions of planning meetings, a world-wide fundraising campaign, a titanic struggle (an epic journey through an ocean of icebergs, though we managed not to sink).’
It is hard to imagine just how difficult it was to get the Globe Theatre built. And like a hero in a Shakespearean tragedy, Sam Wanamaker died before the project was finished.
We have so much to thank him for.
TIMELINE
Some key dates in Sam’s life including important moments that built his relationship with and contribution to Shakespeare and British theatre.
1919
Born on 14 June in Chicago, Illinois, USA
1933
At 14 attends the Chicago World Fair and sees a mock reconstruction of Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre
1936
Joins Blackfrairs Company as a drama student and performs Shakespeare’s plays
1936
Has first acting job in a replica of the Globe at the Great Lakes Exhibition, Cleveland, Ohio
1940
Marries actress Charlotte Hollander (later they have three daughters together: Abby, Zoë and Jessica Wanamaker)
1942
Has his Broadway ‘big break’ starring alongside Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Lorraine
1943–1946
Serves in the US army
1949
Visits UK for first time, films Give Us This Day, goes to look for the site of Shakespeare
1951
Is back in the UK for Winter Journey filming
1957
Becomes Director of New Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, UK
1959
Performs in Othello at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
1970
Sets out to build a new Globe Theatre, founds The Shakespeare Globe Trust and International Shakespeare Globe Centre
1993
Made an Honorary Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II
1993
Died on 18 December after a battle with prostate cancer
1997
In June, the Globe Theatre is opened by Her Majesty the Queen
