A World Inside Announcement
Discover a world inside the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, as we bring three illuminating plays to London’s only indoor candlelit theatre: All’s Well That Ends Well, Cymbeline and Three Sisters, plus More… Ghost Stories by Candlelight with HighTide.
Transcending time, crossing kingdoms and uniting artists to create theatrical magic, this season Anton Chekhov shares the stage with Shakespeare as we explore the transformative impact they both continue to have on how we think and feel about the world.
Our biannual Shakespeare and Race Festival returns this October, asking ‘Who owns Shakespeare?’
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s enchanting Hansel and Gretel returns to the Globe stage with a new recipe of music, mayhem and festive magic for everyone aged 5+. And a host of family activities continue with our Telling Tales and Writing Tales events across October half term and the festive season.
Trailer
Michelle Terry, Artistic Director, says: This winter we move indoors to London’s only candlelit theatre to welcome Shakespeare’s rarely performed All’s Well That Ends Well, directed by Chelsea Walker, and Cymbeline, directed by Jennifer Tang. We’re so excited that Chelsea and Jennifer make their Globe debut with these cosmic, kaleidoscopic fairy tales of love, rebellion, and revenge.
And in a Sam Wanamaker Playhouse first, Anton Chekhov also makes his Globe debut with his peerless, powerful, and profoundly human Three Sisters, in a world premiere translation by playwright Rory Mullarkey (The Oresteia, 2015), directed by Caroline Steinbeis (The Broken Heart, 2015). Back by popular demand, HighTide’s More…Ghost Stories by Candlelight returns for four nights of fire-side storytelling, directed by Emily Ling Williams, written by Tassa Deparis, James McDermott, Eloise Pennycott and Aisha Zia. Meanwhile, in the Globe Theatre the deliciously epic Hansel and Gretel, written by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage returns with a new festive recipe directed by Nick Bagnall.
In this predominantly female-led season full of award-winning writers and directors, there is so much for us to look forward to. The nights will draw in, the days will get darker, but by the light of a thousand beeswax candles these plays, and these artists, ask us to come together for a brief moment to imagine the impossible, face the inevitable, and share in the magic, tragic and cosmic of being alive.
8 November 2024 – 4 January 2025
Photography by Phil Fisk
Art Direction by Kim Garrity & Studio Doug
Who said you had to play by the rules?
When Helen cures the dying King, he grants her one wish: to choose any man she wants for her husband. Rejected by the man she’s always loved, Helen sets out to get him, by whatever means necessary. Chelsea Walker makes her Globe directorial debut with Shakespeare’s ruthless thriller.
Secrets and lies. It’s human nature.
A secret marriage changes the course of two ancient kingdoms. For the first time in ten years, see Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s late, tragic comedy of love and rebellion, in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Director Jennifer Tang makes her Globe directorial debut.
10 January – 20 April 2025
Photography by Phil Fisk
Art Direction by Kim Garrity & Studio Doug
31 January – 19 April 2025
Photography by Phil Fisk
Art Direction by Kim Garrity & Studio Doug
A life is a long time to wait.
For the first time at the Globe, experience the work of playwright Anton Chekhov with this twentieth century classic. Their world is going up in flames, one minute at a time. But can three sisters create the change they’re longing for? Caroline Steinbeis returns to the Playhouse to direct the world premiere of a new translation by playwright Rory Mullarkey.
DELVE DEEPER INTO THE SEASON
Unpack the themes of this season with our study days exploring Shakespeare’s Knotty Comedies and his Fairy Tale Worlds. Hear from expert academics and enjoy a Q&A with members of the acting company.
Ghosts don’t always stay in the past.
All-new for 2024, following the sell-out success of last year’s tour, gather close in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for a chilling evening of contemporary tales and music from the ‘Haunted Counties’ of East Anglia, brought to you by HighTide.
30 October – 2 November 2024
29 November 2024 – 5 January 2025
Photography by Elise Humphrey
Art Direction by John Overeem
Cake by Steven Carter-Bailey
A deliciously festive treat for all ages.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Hansel and Gretel, as a new version of The Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre with poetry, songs and hope. Returning with a new recipe of music, mayhem and festive magic, this is a delicious treat for everyone aged 5+ directed by Nick Bagnall. Don’t miss our bespoke wrap-around events and family tours designed expecially to compliment this festive treat.
The 2024 Shakespeare and Race Festival is themed around the question: Who Owns Shakespeare? Shakespeare was constructed over centuries as an icon of white elite culture and excellence, and ownership of his words and heritage remains contested today. Through a series of conversations, events and academic debates, we will explore how different communities and cultures have challenged the status quo in their study, teaching and performance of Shakespeare’s works.
FOR FAMILIES
If you’re looking for ways to keep the whole family entertained once the summer’s over, we have a host of events, tours and workshops to suit children of all ages – and their grown-ups!
October half term is once again jam-packed with our acclaimed Storytelling performances – perfect introductions to some of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays including Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest – and a variety of interactive Family and Onstage Workshops for all ages.
For Halloween, we’ve got our spooky Ghosts & Ghouls Family Tour of the Globe Theatre; and for the early planners amongst you, why not add our Festive Family Tour to your Christmas to-do list? And, of course, there’s the Shakespeare’s Globe Story & Tour, giving children and grown-ups the chance to explore our iconic wooden ‘O’ up close all year round!
All-new for 2024, we welcome an incredible line-up of award-winning children’s authors, illustrators, poets and historians into the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for our new family event series, Telling Tales. Join the likes of Dapo Adeola and Nathan Bryon (Rocket’s adventure picture book series), Greg Jenner (former Historical Consultant on CBBC’s Horrible Histories), Michael Rosen (Burping Bertha, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt), and more, to hear about their brilliant books and inspiration.
Or, fancy your hand at writing your own stories? Come together as a family for our creative writing sessions, Writing Tales, with Shelina Janmohamed (The Extraordinary Life of Serena Williams) and Piers Torday (The Last Wild).
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Aspiring actors can experience our iconic theatres with one of week-long Young Actors Short Courses. These interactive courses include a tour of the Globe and culminated in a relaxed sharing of work with families.
Young people studying Shakespeare at school can supercharge their study with our GCSE boosts focussing on curriculum texts including Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing.
Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank also returns in 2025 for its 19th year with a production of Macbeth created especially for young people. Applications open in September for over 26,000 free tickets available for London and Birmingham state schools, with public performances announced later in Autumn.
ACTORS & CREATIVES
Professional actors and directors can join our The Studio at Shakespeare’s Globe to access new intensive 3 day courses and one-off workshops to hone their craft using unique Globe practices. Led by our expert faculty, these courses offer opportunities to explore acting, voice, movement and text and include sessions on the Globe stage.
The Globe Talks continue with a special collaboration with Dance Umbrella exploring the role of the Movement Director. Globe CEO Stella Kanu will be joined by a distinguished panel of experts to ask the question, Is Theatre Stealing Dance’s Moves?