During Shakespeare’s Time The Theater During Shakespeare’s Time

Elizabethan Theater Called this to honor the queen, Queen Elizabeth I She loved art, music, drama, and poetry She was a patron of the arts A patron is a rich citizen of high rank who backed an acting company She liked Shakespeare’s plays and protected him

Important People to the Theater The “Master of Revels” was the official censor of plays He approved or censored content A patron sponsored an acting company Acting companies had to be sponsored by a patron

The Globe Theater Built in 1599 In Southwark (near London) Shakespeare was a part owner Burned down in 1613 Rebuilt in 1614 Torn down in 1644 by the Puritans

The Globe Octagonal shape Unroofed yard in the center Audience members who paid a penny and stood in the yard to watch a performance were called groundlings Seating capacity of 3000

Parts of the Globe Yard (where groundlings stood) Permanent Door (stage entrance and exit) Platform (main acting area)

Performances Held in the afternoon (2:00) A flag would be hoisted on the day of a performance The start was signaled by a trumpet sounding 3 times

Acting Companies Consisted of 25-30 actors Female roles played by boys Each company had a clown for comic relief Plays were written with actors and their abilities in mind

Staging and Scenery Most plays lasted two hours There was little interruption because scenery wasn’t used Did use some props (lanterns) Setting was established with words

Costumes Were colorful and expensive Usually donated by rich patrons

Costumes Would establish a character’s status (wealthy, poor, soldier, king, etc.) Was symbolic of a character’s morality White = purity Black = evil Red = violence, blood

The Closing of the Theaters Puritans closed down the playhouses in 1644 They believed actors were evil and immoral

The New Globe Theater 45 million dollar reconstruction Opened in 1997