It is a round wooden theatre with three levels of seats and an open arena in the middle. It was reconstructed in the original Tudor style, using traditional methods and techniques, and was opened by the Queen in 1997. Plays are performed from May to September each year.

The original wooden theatre was built in 1599, but it burned down in 14 years later. Many of Shakespeare's 37 plays were first performed here. The 2nd Globe was built in 1614 and destroyed during the Civil War in 1642. The present building was completed in 2000 near the original site on the bank of the Thames by Southwark Bridge.