Activity Book

Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition provides atheatrical, social and historical context to thestaging of Shakespeare’s plays at the GlobeTheatre. This activity book contains photocopiablematerial to provide students with pathwaysthrough the Exhibition. The material in this booksuggests six characters who are planning a visit toShakespeare’s London. The character profiles areof varying complexity, number one being the mostdifficult and number six the easiest.

Before your visit, students should be divided intogroups of five or six to plan their research. Sincethe characters are imaginary, but based on realpeople, a very personal approach is possible.Students, especially the younger ones, may chooseto build up a lifestyle for their character, givingtheir children names or building up life historiesbased on their research.

Please note that the ‘dating’ of this imaginary visitcannot be exact, since exhibits cover a range oftime from before the building of the first Globe in1599 to the present reconstruction. Informationabout Shakespeare’s Globe is available on ourwebsite:shakespearesglobe.com/about-us

Your group booking

All groups of 15 or more people should booktheir visit to Shakespeare’s Globe in advance.

The Exhibition visit includes a guided tour ofthe Globe Theatre. To book this option pleasedownload a Group Booking Request Form fromthe Exhibition Groups page on the website,shakespearesglobe.com/exhibition/groupsand email it toexhibition@shakespearesglobe.com020 7902 1500 (+44 20 7902 1500)

If you wish to book a visit to the Exhibitionalongside a Globe Education workshop and guided Theatre visit, use the booking form atshakespearesglobe.com/education/teachers/at-the-globe020 7902 1433 (+44 20 7902 1433)

At the Globe

Students will need a clipboard (or somethingto press on) with their character profile/tasksheet and pencils. Please note that students willneed to carry all of their belongings with them,as there are no cloakroom or luggage storagefacilities. Please advise students that eating anddrinking in the Exhibition is not allowed.

There is a shop selling a wide range ofpostcards, posters, souvenirs, gifts and books.A range of products is also available online topurchase in advance of your visit:shakespearesglobe.com/shop

Entry to the Exhibition is via the entrance onBankside, near to the Millennium Bridge. Youwill be directed to the appropriate till to beissued tickets for your group. To avoid delay,please have your confirmation papers readyand make cheques payable to ‘The ShakespeareGlobe Trust’. Toilets are available on bothlevels inside the Exhibition.

All the information required to complete thetasks in this activity book can be found fromthe static exhibits and accompanying displays.Additional information can be gained from theinteractive touchscreens, sound stations andvideos. Please ask your students to use theleft-hand touchscreen where possible, as thisalso displays the information on the overheadmonitor for the whole group to see.

Each accompanying adult should guide themovement of up to three groups (of five or sixstudents) through the Exhibition. We suggestyou allow a maximum of 10 minutes in eacharea.

Following each task on the charactersheets is a reference indicating the areaof the Exhibition where students may findthe information they seek. Please use theExhibition Map at the back of this book to ensureyour students are in the relevant section. If apart of the Exhibition is crowded, it is possibleto undertake the tasks in a different order.

Planning your visit to the Exhibition

Back in the classroom, all the information thathas been amassed for the characters will needto be used in some interesting way which alsoallows for sharing. Here are some suggestions...

Letters

Group or individual letters to the chosencharacter giving the advice they sought.

Finding an appropriate style to write to anyof the characters.

Shaping their answers into letter form andfinding out how letters were conveyed inShakepeare’s day.

Understanding the characters and givinglife to their situation, reassuring, warning orsatisfying.

Finding words that the character willunderstand without resorting to too many‘thees’ and ‘thous’.

Letters put up on walls, read aloud or putinto a portfolio.

Drama and roleplay

Imagining a visit to the character’s home.

Planning and even scripting what to say.

The teacher represents the character whoreceives the information, thus being able toask helpful questions.

The scene improvised and rehearsed amongthemselves and then presented to others.

Another class, who perhaps had not been onthe visit, but given the character profiles andquestions, could ‘represent’ each characterin groups, prepare questions and receive avisit from your students.

Talks and projects

Project-books, display sheets or wall charts,computer programmes.

Mini-lectures, classroom exhibitions, aninformation library.

First-person accounts or diaries written bythe characters of their imagined visits toLondon.

An illustrated map of Shakespeare’s Londonshowing the locations that characters mighthave visited. Could the characters ever havemet in London? What would they talk aboutif they did meet?

After your visit

the Characters

The chief secretary to the Venetian Ambassador

A preacher

A student from the University of Oxford

A shoemaker’s apprentice

A country landowner A peddler and his wife

Signor Bosoni, Chief Secretary

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Signor Borsoni is the chief secretary to the Venetian Ambassador. His master is coming to England and will be received at court. Borsoni is worried because his master is young and can be careless about his safety and he has heard that men and women go about much more freely in London than in many other European cities. They have neither of them been to London before, so he wants to plan their first visit.

Tasks

Venice is a city on water. How important is the River Thames in the daily life of London? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

In Venice there are street entertainers for the common people and court theatres for the rich. Where do English actors perform? Who goes to the playhouse in London? How do they behave? What other entertainments are there? Please give some advice to a young man about such places. � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

English tailors are known to be excellent. Please describe theclothes a well-dressed person would wear in London. What arethe favourite colours and materials?� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

Music, dancing and swordplay are all important to a youngman. Is swordplay popular in England? Where can he see goodswordfights? What musical instruments are popular in England?Are there musical entertainments and dancing at court?� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: Music

There are few wooden buildings in Venice. He has heard that thepublic playhouses on Bankside are especially fine. How are suchlarge, half-timbered buildings put together? What other materialsare used? What is the decoration like?� Building Today’s Globe

6 The young Ambassador does not speak good English. While he is here he should learn to read the work of

well-known English writers – notably WilliamShakespeare. Are there such works in print?

Can they be bought easily? A few printed samples of English literature, especially in

dramatic verse, would be very helpful.� Reading and Hearing Shakespeare

Robert Bowley, preacher

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Robert Bowley comes from Banbury. He is married with severalchildren. Once he was a baker but now he travels the countrysidepreaching. He believes that the world has become very sinful.London, he thinks, is a very wicked place. He plans to go there tosee for himself how people live.

Tasks

Do Londoners hear sermons? Where should he go to heargood preachers? He hears that St. Paul’s church needs repair.Why is this? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

He would like to see London Bridge. What is so special about it?Should he go across to Bankside? What would he see there?� Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

He hates plays and players because he thinks they encouragemurders and violence. There are several others who agree withhim. Try to find out what they say and judge for yourself. You maywant to persuade him to change his mind. He won’t be seen in aplayhouse but needs to know what kind of people go there andhow they behave. � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

He needs a new, warm cloak. Are London fashions suitablefor a preacher? What should he look out for? His wife wantsmaterial to make them all shirts and shifts but he hasforgotten what she asked for; can you advise him?� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

Although he dislikes ceremony, he likes music. Fiddles anddancing are not approved. What sort of musical instrumentsshould his wife and children practise at home? If possible listen tosome of them and then make a drawing of any you think his familymight like. � Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: Music

He wants to turn the old bakehouse into a schoolroom. It needsa new roof and the walls need plastering. What are the bestmaterials to use? � Building Today’s Globe

He has written a book of sermons and wants to have it printed.Please give him some information about how this is done.� Reading and Hearing Shakespeare

Samuel Browne, student

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Samuel Browne has written a play. He is still a student at Oxfordbut his play has been performed by his classmates who thought itwas good. It is a comedy about merchants and their wives, basedon an old Roman story. He plans to make his first visit to Londonto find out about the theatres and whether people will like his play.His tutor thinks he should set his play in London. Please advisehim on a few details of city life.

Tasks

The river that flows through Oxford is called the Isis. When itgets to London it has a different name. What is it? Name someways in which the river is important to the life of London. How doLondoners use the river? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

He wants to mention a few important city places in his play. Canyou suggest some places to visit and tell him what they are knownfor? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

The city lies on the North side of the river but the other side seemsinteresting. What goes on there? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

Where is the best place to put on his play? Up to now it has onlybeen seen in a college hall. He has heard that plays are sometimesperformed indoors: can you give him some more informationabout indoor playing places? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

What sort of people go to the theatre in London? How do theybehave? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

If he changes his play from a Roman to a London settingwhat sort of clothes would rich London merchants and theirwives wear? What about poor people? Suppose he ignoredhis tutor and left it as a Roman play, how would the charactersbe dressed? Please make drawings.� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

He would like to have music in the play. What sort of musicdo they have in plays? What are the best instruments to usein outdoor playhouses like the Globe?� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: Music

Is there a chance of his play being printed? Some advice onprinting methods would be useful. � Reading and Hearing Shakespeare

Ralph Hyde, shoemaker’s apprentice

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Ralph Hyde is a shoemaker’s apprentice from Deptford. When hewas eleven years old he was bound to his master for seven years,to learn the trade. He is now fourteen. His master wants him to runsome errands for him in London. He has a little spending moneyof his own. The second day of his visit is St. Crispin’s day and ashoemakers’ holiday. He needs some advice on how to spend histime.

Tasks

He will come up the Thames by boat from Deptford to the Port ofLondon. He would like not to seem ignorant about how Londonersuse the river and how they cross from one side to the other. Hewill spend two nights with his master’s brother who is also ashoemaker in Cheapside. Can you find it on the map and tell himhow to get there from the Port of London? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

Because it is a shoemakers’ holiday he may meet otherapprentices. They say there could be gangs of them roaming thestreets. What will they be likely to do? Should he join them? Hehears that they might all meet at one of the playhouses. Whatare playhouses like and how much will it cost to go inside andhear a play? What other entertainments are there, especially onBankside? He has heard that actors have apprentices too; do boysact and if so what sort of parts do they play?� Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

What are the latest styles of shoes in London? Are any made ofother materials than leather? How are fashionable shoes fastened?His master has some new, soft Spanish leather and wants to knowwhat other things can be made from it.� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

His master’s family like to make music together in the evenings.He used to sing but his voice is breaking. Can you help him tochoose a simple musical instrument to accompany the singing?� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: Music

His master’s daughter, Celia, has never been to the theatre but shewould like to read a play. He thought of buying a small book asa present for her. She is very romantic. What do you suggest hemight buy? � Reading and Hearing Shakespeare

Elizabeth Greenfield, landowner

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Mistress Greenfield is a widow. She has a country estate withtwo farms and many fields. She plans to come to London to sortout some business with her lawyer. She will meet him at MiddleTemple Hall. While she is staying in town she would like to shopfor clothes and visit some places of entertainment.

Tasks

A distant cousin is getting married in Bermondsey. She does notthink they have room in their house but they have invited a greatmany guests. She would like to go but would like some moreinformation about what is likely to happen.� Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

She would like to take presents for her children. The elder boywants a dagger and she was thinking about either a money boxor a silver spoon for the younger one. Could you make somedrawings for her. � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

What is Middle Temple Hall like? She hears that Queen Elizabethhas been entertained there with a play. Whereabouts in the hallcould one stage a play? Would people still be eating while the playwas on? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

She would like to hear a good play. Are there other playhouseswhere she could go? How should she get the best place withoutbeing too crowded? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

Her sheep produce fine wool and she often knits stockings for hertwo boys. What other things could she knit? She would like a pairof fine stockings for herself; what can they be made of? Her olddress has a low neck; what can she wear with it instead of a ruff? � Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

She plans to extend her farm buildings. What materials are goingto last a long time, especially for a new roof on the barn?� Building Today’s Globe

Tom and Ann Quick, peddlers

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Tom Quick and his wife Ann are planning to come up to Londonto collect supplies. They travel the country roads selling at fairsand from door to door. They come to London about four timesa year. Their customers depend on them for news and gossip.While they are in town they will go to the playhouses and toother entertainments. They always want to know what is popular.

Tasks

They hear that Bankside is the best place to go for entertainment.How should they cross the river? What entertainments will theyfind on Bankside? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

They have to get fresh supplies of spoons. Can you draw someand suggest some other pottery or metal things they could carry in their packs? � Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

What are the popular colours for clothes?How much material goes into a ruff and how easy is it to starch? A list of small items of fashion would be really helpful.� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

They sell trimmings of all sorts. Could you suggest andperhaps draw some patterns of lace and embroidery.What small things could they carry to help people make theirown clothes more fashionable; for example pins, ‘points’ andbobbins? Draw anything you think might be useful.� Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: The Tailor’s Workshop, Clothes & Costume

The latest songs are always popular. Is it possible to print musicand pictures as well as words? What musical instruments areordinary people playing? Are there any that a peddler couldcarry easily? � Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time: Music

Exhibition MAP

UnderGlobe Stage

Oak Tree

Starting point for public tours

LIFT

Lower

LevelNew Zealand

Stage HangingsPrinting Press

Reading and Hearing Shakespeare

Notable Shakespeare performances

LIFT

LIFT

Exhibition & Tour

Ticket Desk

Shakespeare in Context

Theatre in Shakespeare’s

Time

Building Today’s Globe

Archaeological finds

Frost Fair model

The Tailor’s workshop

Music

Clothing

Woodworking

Bankside in Shakespeare’s Time

LIFT

Upper

Level

Entrance & Way Out

Special effects

Props Store

The Shakespeare Globe Trust is dedicated to theexperience and international understanding ofShakespeare in performance. Uniquely its workcelebrates the fact that the greatest dramaticpoet in the English language lived and worked inLondon and that the cradle of English theatre was on Bankside by the River Thames.

Founded by the pioneering American actorand director Sam Wanamaker, the Globe isa unique international resource dedicated tothe exploration of Shakespeare’s work andthe playhouse for which he wrote, through theconnected means of performance and education.It is situated on the south bank of the RiverThames, opposite St. Paul’s Cathedral, in London.

Since the Globe Theatre reconstruction openedfor performances in 1997, Shakespeare’s Globehas welcomed visitors from all over the worldto take part in workshops, lectures and stagedreadings; to visit the exhibition and tour the Globe theatre, and to watch productions, ranging from original practices to world premieres of newwriting.

The Globe’s, and Sam’s vision continue togrow. Since the building of the new SacklerStudios, Globe Education have continued theirever expanding programme of public events,school and university courses and work withthe Southwark Community. Meanwhile thecompletion of the Sam Wanamaker Playhousehas allowed us to present works writtenspecifically for an indoor playhouse, and to haveyear-round programmes of theatrical events.

The Globe receives no annual governmentsubsidy.

Globe Exhibition and Tour

Open daily, except 24 & 25 December020 7902 1500 (+44 20 7902 1500)exhibition@shakespearesglobe.com

Globe Education

Workshops, lectures, courses and eveningclasses for all ages and nationalities.livelyaction@shakespearesglobe.com

Further free resources, including factsheetsabout Shakespeare, the Globe, performancepractices and much more, are availableonline atshakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space

Visit the Globe Playground, our web areafor 5 to 11 year olds, atshakespearesglobe.com/playground

Download the free Shakespeare’s Globe 360 app and see the iconic theatre come to life, atshakespearesglobe.com/360

The Shakespeare Globe Trust, a limited companyregistered in England and Wales No. 1152238 anda registered charity No. 266916.

Shakespeare Globe Trading Limited, registered inEngland and Wales No. 997433, a subsidiary ofThe Shakespeare Globe Trust.

Globe Exhibtion & TourSchools’ Activity Book5th Edition, January 2016

Layout by Pete Le May, based on a designby Howard Brown. Cover illustration by Peter Till.Character illustrations by Graham Percy.

The Shakespeare Globe Trust is dedicated to theexperience and international understanding of

Globe Exhibition and Tour

Shakespearesglobe.com

About the Globe