The Old Globe 🇺🇸

Located in San Diego's famous Balboa Park, California, The Old Globe is a renowned professional theatre company housed within the Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts. Originally constructed in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition, the flagship theatre was inspired by the iconic Globe Theatre in London. Today, you can explore an impressive three-theatre complex that hosts approximately 15 plays and musicals annually across summer and winter seasons.

When you visit, you will encounter the flagship 600-seat Old Globe Theatre featuring the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, an enclosed venue rebuilt after a 1978 fire. You can also experience intimate performances at the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, a modern theatre in the round built in 2009 inside the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center. Additionally, the complex features the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, which hosts memorable open-air productions.

Home to the historic National Shakespeare Festival presented almost every summer since 1949, this Tony Award-winning regional powerhouse produces a rich blend of classic Shakespearean works, modern plays, and world-class musicals. Shows originating here have earned nine Tony Awards and nearly 60 Broadway nominations, making it an essential cultural destination.

What to see at The Old Globe

• The 600-seat flagship Old Globe Theatre featuring the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage
• Intimate 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre with seating in the round
• The 605-seat open-air Lowell Davies Festival Theatre
• Historic National Shakespeare Festival held nearly every summer since 1949

Visiting tips

Plan your trip during the summer season to experience open-air theatre at the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Summer evening

How to get there & what’s nearby

The Old Globe is easy to reach on San Diego’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our San Diego travel guide.