Demonstration of Early Modern stage combat by the Globe's expert Fight Team, with a 45-minute session in the main foyer where attendees can handle the weapons.
The Globe Fight Team are bringing Early Modern stage combat to life at Shakespeare's Globe from 18 to 29 October, with the demonstrations taking place in the main foyer on the South Bank. It's a 45-minute session that puts the Globe's own fight experts front and centre, and the best part is that you get to handle the weapons yourself rather than just watching from a distance.
Between the demonstrations, they'll be answering the kind of questions that usually only come up after you've seen a fight scene on stage. They'll walk you through the difference between a rapier and a smallsword, talk about how often weapons like that would have actually been seen in Shakespeare's London, and whether the fights in his plays bore any resemblance to the real thing on the mean streets of the 16th century. It's as much a bit of a history lesson as it is a display of skill, and the hands-on bit means you'll get a proper feel for the weight and balance of the blades they're talking about.
The demonstration is part of the Globe's Family Events programme, which runs throughout the school holidays and brings together a fair few tours, workshops and other family activities. As part of that, there's also a shortened Shakespeare play aimed at secondary schoolers every March and April. Child and adult tickets are the same price, and all children under 18 have to be accompanied by an adult.
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Tickets are £15, which includes a £3 per order transaction fee. The whole thing happens in the main foyer, so it doesn't include a visit inside the Globe Theatre itself. It runs from 18 to 29 October, so there's plenty of choice if you're planning a trip to the South Bank over the half-term.
