Britannica Sources used in this answer

What were the tiring house and the tiring-house wall used for at the Globe Theatre?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

At the Globe Theatre, the tiring-house and its associated wall served as the essential backstage area for performers.12

The tiring-house functioned as a dedicated space where actors prepared for their performances, including dressing for their roles. It also served as a storage area for the company's essential equipment, housing their collection of costumes, props, and playbooks.21

The tiring-house wall, also known as the frons scenae, acted as the backdrop for the stage. Its design facilitated theatrical production in several ways:1
* Entrances and Exits: The wall featured two doors on its flanks for actors to enter and exit the stage.1
* Central Opening: A central opening, typically covered by hangings (such as an arras), allowed for concealed staging, such as hiding caskets or statues.1
* Vertical Space: A balcony ran above these three openings, providing an elevated space for scenes requiring upper windows, balconies, or town walls.1

Would you like to know more about how the stage design influenced specific Shakespearean performances?