Curtain Theatre

The Curtain The Curtain was used as a venue for Elizabethan plays, replacing the Inn-yard venues. The purpose built Elizabethan Amphitheatres in London such as the Curtain were used during the summer months and transferred to the indoor playhouses during the winter. It was called the "Curtain" because it was located near a plot of land called Curtain Close, not because it had the sort of front curtain associated with modern theatres. Elizabethan theatres had small curtained enclosures at the back of their stages; but the large front- curtained Proscenium stage did not appear in England till after the Restoration.Proscenium Restoration The Curtain was the second London playhouse, next to the Theatre, north of the London Wall. It had the same structure as the Theatre, only slightly smaller, and at times the two were under the same management. Between 1597 and 1598, the Curtain was the home of the Chamberlain's Men, before they moved to the Globe in The Curtain was used by many popular acting companies after the Chamberlain's Men, including the Queen's Men (from ), and the Prince Charles' Company (after 1621), but there is no record of the Curtain after 1627.

Curtain Theatre The Curtain Theatre - Elizabethan Amphitheatre The Curtain Amphitheatre opened in 1577 in Curtain Close, Finsbury Fields, Shoreditch, London. The Curtain was the second such public playhouse (after the Theatre) to be built in London. Henry Lanman was a theatrical entrepreneur and was responsible for its creation. Henry Lanman was also the Curtain theatre's manager until A number of companies performed at the theater including the Chamberlain's Men (William Shakespeare was known to have played at the theater while his acting troupe was waiting for the Globe to be built). The Curtain amphitheatre was in use from 1577 to 1622 when it was closed by order of the Puritans.

Curtain Theatre Description of The Theatre amphitheatre The Curtain was described as an Elizabethan Amphitheatre which was octagonal or circular in shape having between 8 and 24 sides. The open air arena of the amphitheatre was called the 'pit' or the 'yard'. The stage of the amphitheatre projected halfway into the 'pit'. The Curtain had a raised stage at one end which was surrounded by three tiers of roofed galleries with balconies overlooking the back of the stage.

Curtain Theatre Facts and Information Interesting general facts and information about the amphitheatre venue such as the Curtain: Audience capacity of an Elizabethan amphitheatre was between 1500 and 3000 Building materials used in the construction of early Elizabethan Theatres were timber, nails, stone (flint), plaster with thatched roofs The 'Box ' and the 'Box Office' - Playgoers put 1 penny in a box at the Elizabethan theatre entrance. At the start of the play the admission collectors put the boxes in a room backstage called the box office! The Entrance to the theatre - Usually one main entrance. Some later theatres had external staircases to access the galleries

Curtain Theatre The owners of the theatre were called the 'Housekeepers' There was no heating in the Elizabethan Theatre. Plays were performed in the summer months and transferred to the indoor playhouses during the winter Lighting in the Elizabethan Theatre - Natural lighting as plays were produced in the afternoon. However there was some artificial lighting mainly intended to provide atmosphere for night scenes Toilet Facilities? None. People relieved themselves outside. Sewage was buried in pits or disposed of in the River Thames Size of Elizabethan Theatre - Up to 100 feet in diameter Shapes of the Elizabethan Theatres - Circular or Octagonal in shape having between 8 and 24 sides

Curtain Theatre The height of the raised stage was 3 to 5 feet and supported by large pillars or trestles Stage dimensions varied from 20 foot wide 15 foot deep to 45 feet to 30 feet Only very rich women, who often wore masks, or women of dubious morals attended the amphitheatres Musicians - Music was an extra effect added in the 1600's A selection of ropes & rigging would allow for special effects, such as flying or dramatic entries The floor of the Stage was made of wood, sometimes covered with rushes. Trap doors in the floor would enable some additional special effects such as smoke

Curtain Theatre Curtain Theatre circa 1600 print. Note: some authorities believe this to be a depiction of The Theatre - the other Elizabethan theatre in Shoreditch.The TheatreShoreditch

Curtain Theatre 'Curtain Road'