The Theater and the Players Background: The Theater and the Players
Before there were theaters… Acting was originally a transient endeavor. In other words, it was like the circus in that the performers traveled from town to town to put on shows They often set up in “innyards” (the courtyards of inns)
The Theaters The first successful theater was built by James Burbage in 1576 It was called…. Get ready to be astounded…. THE THEATRE!
Other theaters: The Curtain The Swan The Rose The Red Lion The Globe
We’re Closed! The theaters closed from 1592-94 The Black Plague Makes sense— Would you want to sit in a relatively small space with thousands of possibly contagious people?
Heading to the play How do you envision people “going to the theater” today?
It’s time to don your doublet!
Tighten your trussing!
Get on your galligaskins!
Females, fit on your farthingales!
Smooth your stomachers!
Remember your ruffs!
Slip on your shoes! And grab your gloves!
Gentlemen? Ladies?
Is everybody ready? We’re going to the theater!
The Globe! Shakespeare’s theater is located just outside of London, England.
A white flag is flying. There’s a play today! The young men are dressing up to take the female roles. It’s afternoon, time for the play to start. The stage is a lower class profession, and no women will appear there.
The wealthy are in the upper decks. The poor people are in the “pit.” They are known as “the groundlings.”
THE GLOBE The Globe theater was built in the Southwark district of London in 1599. The location was considered the “sporting district”- a place for cock-fighting, bear-baiting and other bawdy attractions.
View of the Globe
The Globe Theater was open air (no roof) & three levels high.
The Globe could fit between 2,000 to 3,000 spectators. Stats The Globe could fit between 2,000 to 3,000 spectators. The plays were about three hours long.
Scenery The actors had costumes and props, but no background scenery. A change in the scene was indicated through speeches or narrations Shakespeare wrote into the play.
Special effects Pig blood Trapdoors in ceiling and floor (heaven and hell) Some housed in the little building on top called the “HUTS” Cannon balls Deus ex machina
Fate of the Globe The original Globe stood until June 29th 1613. Unfortunately, it caught on fire and burned to the ground when a cannon was fired during a performance of Henry VIII.
Politics, Religion, and the Theater The Globe was rebuilt in 1614, but in 1642 a more religious regime came into power and closed all theaters in England.
Rebuilt (again)
Interior
Distance view
William Shakespeare
Have you heard these phrases? I couldn’t sleep a wink. He was dead as a doornail. She’s a tower of strength. They hoodwinked us. I’m green-eyed with jealousy. We’d better lie low for awhile. Keep a civil tongue in your head.
They are just some of the many expressions coined by that master of language, William Shakespeare.
Sources Used Fashion pictures from High Fashion in Shakespeare’s Time by Andrew Brownfoot, Five Castles Press Ltd., 1992 Shakespeare’s Book of Insults, Insights, & Infinite Jests, by John W. Seder, Templegate Publishers, 1984 The Story of English by Robert McCrum, et. al., Penguin Books, 1987