How to survive six hours of Henry IV at the Globe

If you opt to watch both parts of Shakespeare's epic back-to-back while standing, you'll need some tips . . .
Henry IV at the Globe
Henry IV at the Globe PR

The Globe theatre's new production of Henry IV parts one and two, first performed back to back by the RSC in 1932, opens on Wednesday. And while "event theatre" such as the RSC's Histories Cycle have got audiences used to marathon theatre experiences, the Globe will demand a new level of stamina on the part of its cheapest ticket-holders.

For, of course, not everyone will be sitting down for the six hours plus it takes to tell the story of the reign of Henry IV and the exploits of Prince Hal, the future Henry V. Those with standing tickets in the Yard will have to demonstrate an almost Falstaffian appetite for theatre to survive the back-to-back shows, particularly if temperatures soar. Yet, so far, more than 1,218 people have booked £10 standing tickets for the 15 days when you can see both parts.

I've seldom been to a performance at the Globe where somebody doesn't faint, and at Titus Andronicus a few years back there was a domino effect in the Yard with people going down like ninepins; guessing who would be next was almost as compelling as the cannibalism happening on stage. For health and safety reasons, no sitting is allowed in the Yard and those who try are leapt on by hawk-eyed volunteer stewards.

So how to survive it? Getting there early so you snap up a place at the front, allowing you to lean against the stage, would be good. Make sure you find a spot in the shade and be prepared to move as the sun moves. Wear a hat, drink plenty of water, sit down in the intervals and have a snack. And my best tip: on a chilly night I often take a hot-water bottle, so on Wednesday one filled with ice could be a good idea. Failing that, a packet of frozen peas from the shop around the corner should do the trick.