During Shakespeare’s day people out on the city with acute artistic hunger had many genres and venues to choose. Some would see a comedy or tragedy at the Globe, others would go to the Rose theatre, and still others would wave their hands at impeccable plays and instead watch bear bating at the local arena.

Needless to say, our group passed up the fine art of bear bating to see a tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, at the Globe. We entered the theatre as groundlings — patrons with standing room tickets on the floor in front of the elevated stage — and quickly found a place just below the feet of the actors.

Now Romeo and Juliet is a long play to stand through and our poor hooves ached before the end. One woman, quite justifiably, fainted in the crowd. (Don’t worry, she was doing well after a few minutes off her feet).

The acting was excellent and the crowd responded exuberantly. Tears, jests, music, and elaborate swordplay were enterprises of great pitch and moment on the stage. Hats off  to the cast. Cheers to the theatre who gave us great tickets for only £5.