Updated by: May 21, 2026
It Droppeth
I am a self-proclaimed, raging Shakespeare fan…
When I’m in London, there’s only one destination that matters to me — Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
If you haven’t been, it’s a faithful replica of the original Elizabethan playhouse on the South Bank of the Thames. Open to the sky with a standing room in the yard. Exactly as Shakespeare intended.
My favourite play is The Merchant of Venice — a timeless story featuring Shylock, Portia and Antonio. Worth knowing: Shakespeare invented the name Jessica in this play.
If you know a Jessica, you have Shakespeare to thank!
I took myself to the Globe on a grey London day to see their production. Not raining. Just grey and overcast in that particular way London does so well.
The most famous speech in the play belongs to Portia. She’s pleading for mercy:
“The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.”
The moment the actress spoke those words — it droppeth — a few drops of rain fell on my head.
Not a downpour. Just a few drops. As if on cue.
It remains my most memorable moment at the Globe. Shakespeare would have appreciated the timing!
Paul Mercuri
Wake Up Here Founder
