<P> The theatre is located on Bankside, about 230 metres (750 ft) from the original site--measured from centre to centre . The Thames was much wider in Shakespeare's time and the original Globe was on the riverbank, though that site is now far from the river, and the river - side site for the reconstructed Globe was chosen to recreate the atmosphere of the original theatre . In addition, listed Georgian townhouses now occupy part of the original site and could not be considered for removal . Like the original Globe, the modern theatre has a thrust stage that projects into a large circular yard surrounded by three tiers of raked seating . The only covered parts of the amphitheatre are the stage and the seating areas . Plays are staged during the summer, usually between May and the first week of October; in the winter, the theatre is used for educational purposes . Tours are available all year round . Some productions are filmed and released to cinemas as Globe on Screen productions (usually in the year following the live production), and on DVD . </P> <P> The reconstruction was carefully researched so that the new building would be as faithful a replica of the original as possible . This was aided by the discovery of the remains of the original Rose Theatre, a nearby neighbour to the Globe, as final plans were being made for the site and structure . </P> <P> The building itself is constructed entirely of English oak, with mortise and tenon joints and is, in this sense, an "authentic" 16th century timber - framed building, as no structural steel was used . The seats are simple benches (though cushions can be hired for performances) and the Globe has the first and only thatched roof permitted in London since the Great Fire of 1666 . The modern thatch is well protected by fire retardants, and sprinklers on the roof ensure further protection against fire . The pit has a concrete surface, as opposed to earthen - ground covered with strewn rush from the original theatre . The theatre has extensive backstage support areas for actors and musicians, and is attached to a modern lobby, restaurant, gift shop and visitor centre . Seating capacity is 857 with an additional 700 "Groundlings" standing in the yard, making up an audience about half the size of a typical audience in Shakespeare's time . </P> <P> For its first eighteen seasons, performances were engineered to duplicate the original environment of Shakespeare's Globe; there were no spotlights, and plays were staged during daylight hours and in the evenings (with the help of interior floodlights), there were no microphones, speakers or amplification . All music was performed live, most often on period instruments; and the actors and the audience could see and interact easily with each other, adding to the feeling of a shared experience and of a community event . </P>

Where did the musicians sit in the globe theatre