Renaissance Theatre in Europe Except for Italy

Spain Rich and powerful due to conquest of New World Closely connected to Catholic Church Plays were heroic and Romantic in nature Plays were performed in Proscenium theatres Three major playwrights

Miguel de Cervantes Most famous for the novel Don Quixote considered the first classic of Western Literature. Major plays; El trato de Argel and La Numancia Most plays are no longer extant but he was popular during his era

Lope De Vega Most prolific playwright of all time. Wrote over 2000 plays. Most famous were; “The Sheep Well” and “The Foolish Lady”. Although a priest he had many affairs and children.

Pedro Calderon De le Barca Wrote Liturgical as well as secular plays Was a master of Spanish poetic form which was copied byMarlowe and Shakespeare Famous plays are; “Life is a Dream” and “ The Surgeon and his Honor

French Renaissance Theatre Performed only for the elite Copied Italian theatre design and scenic grandeur. Many plays were “Chamber dramas” meant to be read and not performed.

Cornielle Wrote “Hernani” and “Le Cid” Was first of French Tragedians Fell out of favor at the rise of Racine and Moliere

Jean Racine Competed with Cornielle and Moliere Wrote tragedies harking back to the Greeks Most famous plays are “Andromaque” and “Phaedra”

Jean Baptiste Poquelin MOLIERE Moliere was one of the greatest dramatists of all time. His comedies making fun of the pretentions and foibles of the upper classes are still done today with popular success. His style became a model for the Reformation theatre.

Moliere Continued Born to a prosperous family who did not want him to pursue theatre, he changed his name to save them from embarrassment. His most famous plays are “Tartuffe” about a religious hypocrite. “The Misanthrope”, “School for Wives, ” “ The Miser” and “The Imaginary Invalid”…just to name a few. Moliere died of internal bleeding after a coughing fit in his play “The Imaginary Invalid” before Louis XIV who insisted he continue though he had fallen ill,

Renaissance in England King Henry VIII leaves Catholic Church to marry Anne Bollyn. Creates Church of England and bans all plays of a liturgical nature to end Catholic propaganda. This creates a breeding ground for new playwrights who enjoy a freedom unequaled anywhere else in Europe. The theatre becomes the source of the earliest English Literature of value and lasting worth. The style, poetry and power of the writing, especially during Elizabeth’ s reign has only been equalled by the Greeks who preceded them.

Queen Elizabeth Became queen in 1558 and made England protestant after “Bloody Mary’s” death. Again banned Church drama and legalized professional theatre. Conquered Spanish Armada which changed the balance of power in Europe and made England quite proud of itself and it’s accomplishments…especially literarally.

English Renaissance Playwrights Robert Green Thomas Kyd (Spanish Tragedy) most popular play of the 1500’s. John Lyly Christopher Marlowe William Shakespeare Ben Jonson John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont

English Renaissance features Indoor theatres allowed the theatre manager to collect money Blackfriars was first in an old Monastary “The Theatre” of Richard Burbage was the first to make a go of it and Shakespeare became a member. They moved from the city side of the Thames to the West side in one evening when they were about to lose their lease and created the Globe theatre of which Shakespeare was a part owner. This theatre, his plays and his acting would make him a wealthy man.

The Globe

Seated 2,000 to 3,000 people Thrust stage Pit for “groundlings” balconies for elite Tiring house was in the rear for costume changes and backstage Trap in floor for ghosts or disappearance Doors stage right and left with windows over them…balcony above an enclosed area in rear The heavens could be used to drop leaves or flowers or sound effects.

Christopher Marlowe Called the father of Elizabethan tragedy Was very controversial as an athiest and Cambridge scholar and as a flambouyant Created the form of blank verse and was the createst influenc upon his friend William Shakespeare

Marlowe continued Killed in a bar brawl under very mysterious circumstances at age 29 Plays include: Dr Faustus, Tamberlaine the Great, The Jew of Malta, Edward the Second Many believe, had he lived, he would have rivaled Shakespeare as the greatest dramatist and poet of all time

Ben Jonson Rival of Shakespeare but eventually became and admirer Believied in science of alchemy and plays tend to promote the idea. Plays- Volpone, Every Man in his Humour, The Alchemist Was a secret Catholic when they were outlawed Worked at the Rose Theatre

William Shakespeare The greatest writer of all time. Born is Stratford upon Avon the son to a glover who was on the town council. Father was a Catholic No formal education which makes many question his writing credentials

Shakespeare Married to Anne Hathaway, several years his senior, who shortly after bore him a daughter, Susanna. He had twins later. His son, Hamnet, died which had a marked effect on his writing. He left for London in 1592 and was likely impressed with Marlowes play Tamberlaine which led him to join Burbages, the theatre as an actor. First play performed was Titus Andronicus, a very bloody piece where he tries to outdo his rival.

More on Shakespeare Became partner in Globe so he earned money as an actor, playwright, and manager. Wrote magnificently in three forms, History, tragedy and comedy. Major plays: Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Nights Dream, Hamlet, MacBeth, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, Othello, The Tempest, Henry the IV pts 1,2, and 3, Henry V, Richard II and Richard III, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, Measure for Measure, Merchant of Venice King James was his patron in his last years at Globe Playhouse.

The End of an Era Shakespeare grew very wealthy as a writer and retired to his home. He continued to write but no longer worked at he Globe. Died on his birthday in Theatre in London began to decline in the years after Shakespeare’s death and as Puritan rule succeeded in 1642 under Oliver Cromwell, all theatres were closed down until Charles II was restored to the throne.