Globe 2019 Summer

They only announced 6 tour venues when the season was launched last January, although one of them was Oxford - www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2018/01/digi_2018_season_launch_final.pdf

No idea on ticket sales last year - apparently they had 92% capacity and a £1.3 million surplus in 2017, Rice's last year. Got the impression that as usual the Shakespeares sold very well (particularly Othello of course) and the new plays didn't.

Wonder if they have lost income from memberships too? Perhaps with a swathe of members leaving as a result of Emma Rice's changes, and another bunch leaving as a result of her departure?

The bag search/size limit issue is becoming quite an issue for those who do spend the whole day out and about and/or have to travel some distance. What are you supposed to do with the food/liquid/extra clothing/shopping you might reasonably have with you or acquire during the day? I know theatres have limited cloakroom space but at this rate they will lose business.

Slightly off-topic but yesterday, as I was entering the Garrick Theatre for the matinee of Don Quixote, the security guard noticed my sealed packet of large wholemeal rolls (which I had just bought as I needed these at home and they're impossible to buy locally) and told me I wasn't allowed to eat in the theatre. I replied that I knew and pointed out that the pack was sealed. Leaving aside the fact that anyone would have to be desperately hungry to break into a pack of plain rolls, it was ironic that I was about to see a production at which the audience is bombarded liberally with bread rolls - but not the wholemeal variety! Indeed, several of us in the front row amassed a small heap of rolls. However, as there was nowhere to put them, we had to leave them stacked on the armrests.

Thanks for pointing this out peggs

This new Globe policy seems very draconian and I think will hit a lot of people who are out for the day (or have booked for a 3 play day of the Henrys!)



That's the same limit as BA have for a second piece of hand luggage - having hunted for a backpack that fits within that limit, they are few and far between. I have one but its basically big enough for a book, bottle of water, phone charger and that's about it! So I suspect any reasonably sized rucksack will fall foul of this rule. Not by much (my other rucksack is 45cm * 31 * 21) but if they are being strict on this they will be refused entry.

From the sound of it they will not even let you into the foyer and will not provide a cloakroom facility for bags like this - the website is pointing at places nearby that will charge upwards of £5 to store a bag.

The limit is similar to the National's size restriction on bags in the auditorium - but of course they provide a free cloakroom facility for larger bags!

There is relatively cheap street food by the Festival Hall at weekends. Tasty stuff. So you might not need to take all your food with. I agree though you need to take water bottle and sweeties. My OH has a gilet thing with multiple pockets. Recommend that!

Ahh I like the way you think Xanderl, when they first did security bag checks and said no big bags I panicked and had one small bag, my lunch went in a plastic bag, I ate the food in the queue and the bag then folded up and as remember I had a pac a mac clipped to the bag, not sure it would work for more than one performance though or unpredictable weather. Thanks lynette, unless I find a fellow queuing pal though I am pretty much in the queue from some hours ahead, i'm not the tallest and I do like a stage to try and lean against! I do like the clothes suggestion though!

Michelle Terry interview - www.ft.com/content/6d193852-1369-11e9-a168-d45595ad076d

which reveals the current season will be followed by Henry VI in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Got fobbed off on Twitter by the globe

Is there any evidence at all that their previous bag policy actually caused safety issues? I very much doubt it.

We would have heard of 'three people injured in Globe bag incident'...

Cloakroom / Cupboard is in the cafe area to the side of the Wanamaker, not obvious and can’t remember there being a sign.

Oh I thought they meant safety as in general bag safety policy, it the suggestion that someone got squashed by a rucksack?! I mean I wouldn't try taking much into the Wannamaker cos it's tiny but outside?! 
Guess we'll have to wait and see if they actually turn people away with big bag that they can't send to the cloakroom, though can you imagine queueing for groundling for hours and then being told to go to the clockroom or turned away, not worth the risk. Mind you if I wear everything i'm taking and the person behind me has a large bag and gets in i'm going to fuming (and potentially spontaneously combusting).

Any good? And more importantly did you have a bag with you, if so what size?

I thought they were still in consultation with affected staff about closing it, but it does seem to have vanished from the website which now just talks about tours rather than the exhibition & tour despite the fact the page is called "visiting the exhibition" - www.shakespearesglobe.com/your-visit/frequently-asked-questions/visiting-the-exhibition

Cheekily they seem to be charging the same (£17) for just the 40 minute tour as they used to for the tour + exhibition, I think! Although I guess most people just wanted to see the theatre? I see they are also offering tours of the Sam Wanamaker which I don't think they used to.

Regarding bags, when I saw Edward II the other week there were bag searches but nobody was checking bag sizes. Didn't see any huge rucksacks or suitcases there but average size rucksacks were being let in.

The Oxford run has now been announced by Oxford Playhouse but not yet on the Globe website - 23rd to 30th July.  Each performance is a named show, they are not doing the "voter's choice" thing, so I guess the Globe are leaving the decision on whether to do this up to the local venues.

FANTASTIC. Oh that's a load off my mind!