On June 29, 1613, the original Globe Theatre in London, famously associated with William Shakespeare, was destroyed by fire during a performance of “Henry VIII.” A theatrical cannon, used for special effects, misfired and ignited the wooden beams and thatching. Despite the destruction, the Globe Theatre was quickly rebuilt the following year and continued to host some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. The incident underscores the fragility of artistic venues of the era and the enduring cultural impact of Shakespeare’s legacy, which persists in modern reconstructions and continual performances worldwide.
