'Special Effects' In the globe theatre

'Special effects' were described using language in Shakespeare's time but in contrast to the playwrights who described special effects using language there were acting companies that could produce special effects on a dramatic level. For example lightning and thunder filled theatres that needed 'storms'. Money was not always invested into theatre and getting the 'ingredients' for special effects was expensive therefore special effects could be used in moderation.

Exactly how were special effects made?

In terms of thunder the effect was produced by either rolling a cannonball (a heavy ball that made a thunder like sound) across stage or drums were beat offstage. In those days there was actually something called a thunder machine (A box balanced like a seesaw that used a cannonball which rolled side to side to make the noise).  Flashes of lightning were also made by throwing a type of powder into a flame to make a flash. Artificial 'lightning bolts' were made by attaching a wire to two sides of a stage which was attached to by a firecracker. The firecracker then gave them that lightning like effect which was entertaining for all watching. The firecracker shot from top to bottom or side to side giving a firework that lasted for about 5-8 seconds.

Things can go wrong with special effects to right?

Special effects rarely go wrong but 29th June 1613 they did. The prestigious globe theatre burnt down during a performance of "Henry VIII" a Shakespeare play, this was considered as big news especially in that time as things like this did not happen often. Ingredients used to make special effects did not always smell nice especially when set alight. Sulphur smells like a rotten egg and saltpetre (made from cow dung) already smells bad when mixed up and worse when set alight they were both put together to make gunpowder.  These are used when the witches in Macbeth make smells the air in the theatre actually was not dangerous but just disgusting to breathe in.

How about spells and magic?

Plays from Shakespeare's time had a lot of influence from spirits. gods, goddesses and they usually entered through a trapdoor from above 'heaven'. The actors/actresses were usually lowered in by a strong wire this process or descending act was called 'flying in'. Obviously for positive and good spirits there are bad spirits (evil spirits, devils) that came up from 'hell', under the stage through a trapdoor. Firecrackers were the normal thing when a devil appeared or witchcraft or magic was used. Dr Faustas (a popular Christopher Marlowe play) had one such production where the devil put firecrackers in their mouth to suggest they were 'breathing fire'. Companies related to theatre used smoke as a magic effect and the best part about smoke was that it could be coloured (depending on what chemicals were used). Real fire was used shrewdly as it could be dangerous to the wood and the globe theatre (fire was why the globe 'burned down'). Flames were rarely needed but if they were needed strong alcohol was mixed with different types of salts depending on what colour of flames were needed.


Theatre companies used smoke mostly as a magic effect, although it was sometimes used to suggest a fire. They could make black, white, yellow and red smoke – depending on the chemicals they mixed together. They used real fire as little as possible, it was very dangerous in a wood and thatch building. If they needed flames they burned strong alcohol mixed with a variety of salts, depending on the colour they wanted the flames to be.



Now the globe theatre has been restored into a modern version and is still based in England where the old theatre was and still has plays dating well back into William Shakespeare's time.

I did not know that they used ingredients for special effects even though I did not know it still did not surprise me. Another thing was that I did not know that the globe had plays that were not only Shakespeare's.

Interestingly I found the fact that people actually had the guts to put firecrackers in their own mouth amusing which is quite scary as well because I know that it is not a small thing to put your mouth and taste buds at risk. That was quite daunting also because health standards was high nowadays.

Shawn 10C