Shakespeare Globe

Decorating the Gentlemens Boxes

Work has now begun on decorating the Gentlemens Boxes. This is the first stage of the ongoing debate about if and how the Globe auditorium should be decorated.

The Architectural Research Group set up a working committee called The Decorations Group. The brief was to come up with a scheme to decorate the Gentleman’s Boxes. The agreed solution is outlined below, and work has now begun in time for the opening of the 2008 Theatre Season.

To avoid painting directly on the wood or plaster of the theatre, flat boards have been mounted in the boxes. Each box will be decorated by a different set of artists, at least two of which worked on the original painting of the Globe stage. The paintings in each Box will tell a different story from Ovid, the classical poet whose Metamorphoses inspired much of Shakespeare's work. The chosen stories are: THE LIFE OF ORPHEUS, THE STORY OF VENUS AND ADONIS, THE STORY OF PHILOMELA AND PROCNE, and THE TRIALS OF PERSEUS.

The artists will be working from imagery, mostly woodcuts, found in the Warburg institute. These will be used as guidance rather than templates to copy. Regarding the materials used, ultra authenticity has been found to produce what may seem weak to the modern eye, and instead modern paints will be used (at least for this stage in the decorating of the theatre). In past experience linseed oil has proved unpopular with artists, and lime-wash dulls quickly.

The artwork is to be appreciated close up, i.e. for the people sitting in the boxes, “the imagery is reserved for the pleasure of those who paid extra for the boxes.”

It is important to note that this is an experiment. The painted flats will be in position for the 2008 Theatre Season and maybe more. It will serve to further stimulate the ongoing debate about decorating the whole Globe auditorium. If after a period it is decided that this is not the best solution then it will all be removed.

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