Shakespeare’s Globe, London
All the world’s a stage, and in all the world, the stages don’t come much more famous than this one. When England’s Puritans closed down the Globe in 1642 it would be a long time before the curtain rose again on William Shakespeare’s home theatre. But in 1997 a reconstruction of the playhouse opened just a couple of hundred metres from the site where Shakespeare trod the boards and for which he wrote many of his plays. Four hundred years after the Bard’s death, Shakespeare’s Globe continues to bring his works to life with stunning productions performed in the open-air theatre, as well as more modern works, exhibitions, family events, acting courses and more.
Photograph: Franz-Marc Frei/Corbis
Cinema Odeon, Florence
Warning: you may never be satisfied with a trip to the local megaplex again. A 1922-built Art Deco cinema housed in a Renaissance palace (the Palazzo Strozzino, built in 1462), the Odeon Firenze is the type of cinema that would make it very difficult to keep your eyes on the movie if they didn’t turn the lights out. With a stained-glass cupola, or dome, and a stunning interior, this theatre in the heart of Florence often plays features in their original language with Italian subtitles for the locals.
Photograph: Alamy
Palais Garnier, Paris
Possibly the most famous opera house in the world, the Palais Garnier is astonishingly opulent, from the gilded statues that top the elaborate façade, to the grand white marble staircase, and the vast Grand Foyer. Opened in 1875, the Palais has a horseshoe-shaped auditorium, designed for the audience to see and be seen, and decorated with Belle Epoque (“Beautiful Era”) marvels such as an 8-tonne bronze and crystal chandelier. The Palais is used for opera and ballet, but the building is undoubtedly worth a visit even if you’re not seeing a performance.
Photograph: Arnaud Chicurel/Hemis/Corbis
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Rome
Want to hear Verdi or Puccini performed on their home soil in Italy? Aida or Turandot won’t sound much better than this anywhere in the world. Amazing acoustics are the hallmark of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Built in 1880, and originally known as the Costanzi Theatre, these days this stunning opera house has modern conveniences such as air-conditioning to make a trip to the opera, ballet or theatre a little more comfortable. If you prefer the great outdoors, look out for summer performances at the Baths of Caracalla, an outdoor theatre in the ruins of a Roman bathhouse.
The National Theatre, Prague
In a city full of striking buildings it takes something special to stand out, but the Prague National Theatre does just that. Overlooking the River Vltava, and facing Prague Castle, the theatre is not only the Czech Republic’s leading classical venue, but is architecturally stunning and an important symbol of Czech pride. Collections from a wide section of the general public funded the building of the theatre, which opened in June 1881. But just two months later donations were needed again to fund a rebuild following a devastating fire. Today, the theatre offers Czech and international drama, ballet and opera.
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