Where did rich people sit in the Globe Theatre?



Upper Class: The upper class theatre goers of the Globe Theatre would sit in a section higher called the heavens on cushions. Rich nobles would even pay to sit on the actual stage itself. Since plays ran a very long time, people would get rowdy.

In Elizabethan England, the Globe Theatre was divided into three distinct seating areas: the upper gallery, the middle gallery, and the yard. The upper gallery was reserved for the wealthy, who could pay the highest prices for admission. This area contained cushioned chairs and was covered, which protected the patrons from the weather. The middle gallery was a standing area and was home to the less affluent members of the audience. The yard was the cheapest area of the theatre, where patrons could stand or find a spot on the ground. This area was reserved for the poorest members of the audience.

In the Globe Theatre, the wealthiest members of the audience would traditionally sit in the gallery, which offered the best view of the stage. The gallery was usually divided into two sections, the Lords’ Rooms and the Gentlemen’s Rooms. The Lords’ Rooms were located nearest the stage and had the best seating, while the Gentlemen’s Rooms were in the back of the gallery. The rest of the audience would be seated in the yard or pit, which were located directly in front of the stage. The yard was the most affordable, but it also offered the least desirable view of the performance.

Where were the most expensive seats in the Globe Theater?





Lord’s Rooms

The most expensive seats would have been in the ‘Lord’s Rooms‘. Admission to the indoor theatres started at 6 pence. One penny was only the price of a loaf of bread.

The most expensive seats in the Globe Theater were the Lord’s Rooms, located at the upper level of the theater. These were the only sections with private boxes, and they were the most expensive and luxurious seats in the theater. The Lord’s Rooms were located in the galleries and had their own staircase, providing the patrons with a more private experience. The Lord’s Rooms cost four shillings, which was more than double the price of the ground level seats. From the Lord’s Rooms, patrons could enjoy the best views of the stage and the actors, making them the most sought-after seats in the theater.

The most expensive seats in the Globe Theatre were in the three-story sections of stadium seating surrounding the theater. They were situated in the balconies, or galleries, at the back of the stage above the Tiring Rooms. It is estimated that these seats would have cost around $7,500.



Where did the wealthiest members of the theatre audience sit?



Two balconies came up from the left and right of the ” Lord’s Room”, a term coined in 1890 for the ” Gentlemen’s Room”. Seats for rich patrons of Globe theaters sold for 4 pence per cushion and cost more than 10 pence for cushioned seats.

Traditionally, the most expensive seats in a theatre were located in the center of the balcony or the boxes at the sides of the theatre. These seats were reserved for the wealthiest members of the audience and provided the best views of the stage. It was common for the wealthier members to be escorted to their seats before other members of the audience were seated. Additionally, the tickets for these seats were often more expensive than other tickets as they provided a more desirable location.

Where did the rich and powerful of England like to sit in theaters?

The rich paid three pennies to sit in the higher galleries, which had a better view. The best seats were in the lords’ rooms, private galleries closest to the stage.

Where did wealthy people sit in the theater and where did regular people sit?

The upper class spectators would pay to sit in the galleries often using cushions for comfort. Rich nobles could watch the play from a chair set on the side of the Globe stage itself, so an audience viewing a play may often have to ignore the fact that there is a noble man sitting right on the stage(Elizabethan Era).



Where did the poor sit in the Globe Theatre?

The Seating at The Globe Theatre

The Globe theatre had a central area where there was no cover. This is where the poor people used to watch the plays. They were called the groundlings. They would stand in this area with no protection so when it rained and snowed they got very cold and wet.

Where did the different social classes sit in the Globe Theatre?

They would sit in an area called the heavens, on cushions. Next, was the middle class. They were treated with mild respect, as they were not the worst class. The middle class was known as the commoners and they would sit in an area known as the galleries.

Where did wealthy patrons sit during Shakespeare’s performances?

Or for a penny or so more, you could sit more comfortably on a cushion. The most expensive seats would have been in the ‘Lord’s Rooms’. Admission to the indoor theatres started at 6 pence.



What was the pit in the Globe Theatre?

The Pit, or yard, was the area located around the stage. There was no seating – the cheapest part of the Globe Theater and the audience had to stand. The stage structure projected halfway into the ‘ yard ‘ where the commoners (groundlings) paid 1 penny to stand to watch the play.