Final answer:
The Globe Theatre was destroyed by a fire caused by pyrotechnic effects during a play, highlighting the risks of Elizabethan theatre's use of flammable materials and open flames. The original theatre, famous for plays by Shakespeare, succumbed to flames on June 29, 1613, during a performance due to a misfired cannon. Modern reconstructions of the Globe have safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Globe Theatre caught on fire and was destroyed due to pyrotechnic effects during a play. Elizabethan theatres, including Shakespeare's Globe, were highly susceptible to fires, as they were constructed primarily from wood and straw materials, which are highly flammable. Moreover, lighting in these theatres often involved the use of open flames, such as torches and candles, which easily ignited the flammable materials.
The original Globe Theatre, with its unique Elizabethan architecture featuring a thrust stage and a circular ground plan, was representative of the era's theatre design but also contributed to the risk of fire. A tragic example of such a hazard occurred on June 29, 1613, during a performance of 'Henry VIII' when a cannon shot used for special effects ignited the roof and led to the theatre's destruction. The use of special effects, like the cannon shot, was a common practice that unfortunately sometimes led to disastrous outcomes.
Today, modern recreations of the Globe Theatre adhere to current safety standards to prevent such tragedies, incorporating non-flammable materials and safe lighting design that utilizes electric light rather than open flames or candles.