THE ELIZABETHAN THEATER

THE TIME PERIOD  England is small (5 million people) There are more people in London today U.S. today 300,000,000  England is dependent on agriculture and is covered in forests  Large gap between rich and poor classes Rich use land for pasteurization (depend on wool for clothes) Farmers face enclosure Government unable to stop enclosure

THE TIME PERIOD  Trees are used for shipbuilding and manufacturing  Mining (coal, iron, tin, copper, lead) emerges  Too much pasteurization leads to high unemployment Still considered “Land of Comforts” by other European nations  Heavy taxation  America is beginning to be discovered  England uses America’s resources to trade with Eastern Europe and the Orient  Many Irish Rebellions and Riots take place  New scientific ideas challenge religious way of life (Old versus New)

NOW AND THEN

 Became more symmetrical often in E or H shapes Thought to be a tribute to Queen Elizabeth and King Henry  Built for comfort for the first time over defense  Gardens are very popular  Privacy is becoming more important  Most things were made from wood Stools, paneling, and carvings were abundant HOUSING Shakespeare’s House

 Light breakfast  Dinner starts at 11am and lasts 3 hours Lower classes had dinner at noon  Small supper at 6pm (7 or 8pm for the lower classes  Rich ate on silver, gold or delft Lower classes ate on wood or pewter  Cooking done over open flames Meat cooked on a spit (turned by a dog or circular treadmill) Baking done in iron boxes on a fir or in a brick oven in the fireplace FOOD

DRESS FOR WOMEN Under Clothes -Smock or shift, also called -a chemise made of linen -Stockings or hose -Corset or bodice -Farthingale - a hooped skirt -A Roll or Rowle -Stomacher -Petticoat -Kirtle -Forepart -Partlet Over Clothes -Gown -Separate sleeves -Ruff -Cloak -Shoes -Hat

DRESS FOR WOMEN

DRESS FOR MEN Under Clothes -Shirt -Stockings or hose -Codpiece -Corset Over Clothes -Doublet -Separate sleeves -Breeches -Belt -Ruff -Cloak -Shoes -Hat

DRESS FOR MEN

THE ROYAL FAMILY Henry VIII Elizabeth I James I

THEATER HISTORY  Catholic Church had shut down Roman theaters Gladiators/fighting contests  For almost 4 centuries, theater officially non-existent in Western Europe  The church revives theater in the 10 th century Monks create songs and plays for religious celebration (often lengthy) Plays follow church calendar Many non-religious people would come to watch and be entertained

THEATER HISTORY  Secular plays considered immoral  Theater created controversy amongst England’s citizens  Common Council tries to ban theater in London saying it will bring back the plague  Queen Elizabeth supports the theater, therefore the ban did not stop plays from being performed  Plays often poked fun at the rich, but had to be carful not to upset the patrons that supported the theater  In 1642, Puritans forced all theaters to close

THEATER APPEARANCE Audience sits on 3 sides of the stage No electricity Very simple sets Only men were allowed to act

THEATER GUESTS  Royalty, Rich, Poor  Social Status and Wealth determined seating Rich sat in balconies, along the stage, or on the stage Poor stood in pits in the middle of the theater  All plays were preformed during the day due to lighting

THEATER ECONOMICS  To stand on the ground (1 penny) These peoples were nicknamed “groundlings”  To sit in the balcony (5 pennies or more) There were 3 different levels Cost depended on level  To sit on the stage (unknown) Most expensive seat

THEATER CREATE!  Create your own theater map This should be historically accurate This should show class divisions This should contain a stage and audience This should have labels for each theater section This should have a key showing the play being shown and how much it costs to see it This should have your name on the back