The original Globe Theatre stands as one of the most iconic structures in literary history, serving as the primary performance space for William Shakespeare and his playing company. Built from the timber of their previous theatre, it was a wooden polygon that stood as a vibrant centre for London's theatrical life. Its most bizarre historical moment occurred on June 29, 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII. To add a sense of realism, the stage crew fired a theatrical cannon, which malfunctioned and set the thatched roof on fire. The flames spread with incredible speed, consuming the entire structure within two hours. Remarkably, it is said that the only casualty of the blaze was a man whose breeches caught fire, which he promptly extinguished with a bottle of ale. While the theatre was rebuilt a year later, the image of a world-famous literary site burning down over a prop malfunction remains one of the more absurd incidents in the history of the stage.