The Transition From Medieval to Elizabethan Drama

Forces Shaping Drama Religious and Political controversies the Protestant Reformation eventually lead to the banning of religious dramas and cycle plays by Elizabeth I the defeat of the Spanish Armada lead to the increase influence of England on European culture

Forces Shaping Drama Professional Recognition became a commercial enterprise theatres became self-supporting approved of by the aristocracy, especially Elizabeth I an actor’s societal position raised from one to disgrace to one of honor

Forces Shaping Drama The Renaissance revived the interest in classical learning began to write plays in Latin and English English playwrights would inject classical influences onto English subject matter

Professional Acting Troupes Noble families maintained acting troupes actors were classified as servants troupes were illegal unless attached to a household were paid by the family, but performed for the public for extra money

Professional Acting Troupes Famous Acting Companies Earl of Leicester’s Men –first troupe to receive a license –headed by James Burbage Queen’s Men –actors were hand picked Lord Chamberlain’s Men (which later became the King’s Men) –Shakespeare was a member

Professional Acting Troupes Acting Company Members all men, no women 10 – 25 in number, (approximately 10 were shareholders) 3 – 5 were apprentices –boys who performed female and children’s roles –aged

Professional Acting Troupes Acting Company Members most actors specialized in certain types of roles playwrights wrote plays to suit the actor’s abilities in his company a different play was performed each day; actors had to perform many different roles each season

Professional Acting Troupes Dramatists (or playwrights) earned a weekly salary assisted with daily rehearsals had to have scripts approved by the Master of Revels –who was in charge of licensing all acting companies

Professional Acting Troupes Acting Style Scholars cannot agree upon formal or realistic (although most believe formal) Formal: actions based on the words of the poet distinguished by excellence in voice

Professional Acting Troupes Formal: criticized for shouting, strutting, and directing attention to the spectators praised for versatility and consistency

Professional Acting Troupes FAMOUS ACTORS Tragedians Richard Burbage, Edward Alleyn, Joseph Taylor Clowns Richard Tarleton, William Kemp, Robert Armin

Elizabethan Theatre Structure

PUBLIC THEATRES Open air theatres some held up to people varied in shape (round, rectangle, octagon)

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Pit (or Yard) unroofed space enclosed by the galleries where the groundlings viewed the play

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Galleries 3 stories high roofed more expensive seats, sometimes with private boxes

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Stage

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Stage raised 4 –6 ft. jutted into audience, audience on 3 sides had 2 doors for entrances/exits designed for continuous flow of action principle acting area similar to Medieval mansions

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Stage – Discovery Space a.k.a. the “Inner Below”, “Study” or “Pavilion located at the rear of the forestage housed characters, objects, revelations, and concealments

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Stage – Second Level used by actors one or two window used to depict heavens or “balcony”

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Stage – Third Level sometimes used to indicate high places mostly used by musicians on top of all this was the hut. On top of the hut was the flag, used to signal when a play was playing

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PUBLIC THEATRES Machinery housed both above and below stage sometimes through trap doors pullies were used to raise and lower things includes sound effects, alarm bells, thunder, etc.

Elizabethan Theatre Structure PRIVATE THEATRES Blackfriars was the first in 1576 –home of the King’s Men in the winter By 1642, there were at least 6 private theatre companies smaller, roofed (inside) performed by candlelight

Elizabethan Theatre Structure Similarities Built outside of city limits Flag raised on presentation days audience composition same (groundlings on floor, upper class in galleries) ticket prices same

Elizabethan Theatre Structure Differences roofs size of audience lighting