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Shakespeare’s Globe has recently unveiled a new research facility located at its Bankside premises, described as the only public Shakespeare library and archive in London. This centre, known as the Research and Collections Centre, contains an extensive assortment of over 6,000 books focused on Shakespeare, early modern literature, and drama, alongside the theatre’s own records of past performances.
Among the extensive holdings, the rare book collection is particularly notable for its inclusion of nearly 500 works from the 16th and 17th centuries. This collection features a second folio edition of Shakespeare’s complete works, originally published in 1632. Although entry to the centre is free, access to the materials requires prior registration and appointments due to the delicate and valuable nature of the items. Visitors who are not conducting research can still enjoy the foyer area, where free temporary exhibitions are regularly displayed.
Dr Will Tosh, responsible for higher education and research at the Globe, emphasized the importance of such a facility amid what he described as a “crisis of library provision and also a crisis of reading.” He said, “We want anyone with an interest to come and enjoy this space. In a time when libraries tend not to open, they tend to close… I’m extremely proud at the Globe that we are putting our name and our energy into the importance of books and libraries.” Previously, the Globe’s library was housed in less suitable conditions and was harder to access, but it now occupies a central place within the building, making it very visible to visitors.
The centre officially welcomed researchers starting 22 September and opened its doors to the public two days later. Central to the facility is the Audre D. Carlin Reading Room, where visitors can request items, including the theatre’s archive of recordings of every Globe production since the mid-1990s. In addition to the reading room, the building contains the John Wolfson Rare Book Room, a lecture theatre, the Weston Foyer exhibition space, and a climate-controlled storage area to protect the archive. Among the displayed items are books from the Globe’s founder, Sam Wanamaker, some annotated by him personally. The archive also preserves costumes made according to the Globe’s approach to recreating original staging practices from Shakespeare’s era. The exhibitions in the Weston Foyer are linked to the theatre’s events, such as the current Shakespeare and race festival
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