How did the stage roof protect performers at the Globe Theatre?

At the Globe Theatre, the stage was protected by a large roof known as "the shadow" or "the heavens." This cover was supported by two substantial pillars positioned midway along the sides of the stage.12

The primary purpose of this structure was to shield the performers and their expensive costumes from rain. Beyond its protective function, the roof served as a technical component of the theater; it concealed an upper area equipped with a trapdoor and a windlass, which allowed actors playing gods or other supernatural characters to be lowered onto the stage.12