SHAKESPEARE

Located on the 400 block of Queen Street between Dinwiddie and Court Streets, The Globe Theatre mural is one of Portsmouth’s signature public art landmarks and Support Portsmouth Public Art’s largest and most ambitious mural project.

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Although first envisioned more than a decade earlier, the mural finally became a reality through the creativity and talents of artists, Nico Cathcart and Clayton Singleton. A matching grant from the Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission, together with the generous cooperation of the building owner, Patrick Olds, made it possible to transform this large blank wall into a celebration of theater and imagination.

 

Rather than portraying a single Shakespearean play, the mural invites you behind the scenes of London’s famous Globe Theatre. Actors prepare for a performance by rehearsing lines, discussing their roles, and helping one another perfect the production. Their expressions and interactions capture the excitement, anticipation, and teamwork that take place before the curtain rises.

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Look closely and you’ll recognize many of Shakespeare’s best-known characters. Hamlet contemplates Yorick’s skull, Romeo and Juliet appear together, Julius Caesar and Macbeth represent two of the Bard’s greatest tragedies, while the mischievous Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream adds a touch of whimsy. Presiding over the scene is Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign marked the golden age of English theater. The historic Globe Theatre forms the backdrop, transporting visitors to the birthplace of many of Shakespeare’s timeless works.

 

An especially meaningful feature of the mural is that the actors were inspired by local residents who posed for the artists. By using members of the art community as models, the mural reminds us that Shakespeare’s stories continue to live through ordinary people who share a love of the arts.

 

As you continue your walk through Portsmouth’s public art collection, take a moment to appreciate the countless hours of creativity and collaboration represented here. Like every great performance, this mural celebrates the idea that extraordinary achievements are made possible when artists, patrons, volunteers, and the community work together.