The Globe Theater is probably the most important structure in Shakespeare's dramatic career. Built in 1599 by the Chamberlain's Company, it stood on the Southern shore of the Thames River in London. At this time Shakespeare was a member of the Chamberlain's Company, and therefore he became a shareholder in the theater. The profits actors made off of their shares was their main means of support, as it was for Shakespeare. It was not his plays as some people may think, which were often worth very little and ended up as property of the acting company. .

             The Globe was just one of many theaters built in London around this time. The residents of London were in a frenzy for entertainment, and in response many theaters for acting, bear baiting, and bull baiting were built throughout the countryside. .

             Some of the more famous theaters were The Swan,The Fortune, The Curtain, The Rose, The Hope, The Queen's College, The King's Theater, and of course, The Globe. Wealthy individuals were often patrons of the arts, and would therefore purchase a theater of their own, or in some cases an acting company may purchase a theater and play only for selected groups. Some of these theaters located in London were The Blackfriars I and II, St. Paul's, The Whitefriars, Salisbury Court, The Cockpit, and Drury Lane. .

             The Chamberlain's Company, who built the Globe, formed in 1594. At the time, it was one of only two licensed acting companies in London. Among the eight actors in the group were Shakespeare and Richard Burbage, another notable English actor. Of the eight, only six donated the funds used to build the theater. The Chamberlain's Company later changed its name to the King's Company when James took over the English throne. .

             The Globe was the most important structure to Shakespeare's drama because most of his plays were written to be performed on the stage of the Globe. Those plays written by Shakespeare under the context of performance at the Globe include: .