A Brief History - the Rise of Theatre LMAC Mr. Wilson

When did Theatre as we in the West know it, really get started? English Renaissance Theatre – 1600’s What made this particular period so interesting? First time, in a long time, that the theatre was not restricted to the court & nobles People of all social classes mixing The idea of meeting in public – and being SEEN in public Sharing stories EVERYONE attended

Why do people continue to study theatre from this time? Many reoccurring themes A good story is a good story The Renaissance of literary ideas like Tragedy and Comedy With things like film, why is the theatre still such a powerful form for story-telling? It is different when it is done in person A good play FEELS, SOUNDS and LOOKS very different then a good movie A play has very different THEATRICAL ELEMENTS

It has been surmised that Shakespeare did not actually write this stuff… Why? Because it was published 7 years after he died. He did not go to school He did not own a single book. He was not that famous while he was alive!

Why exactly do people ALWAYS focus on Shakespeare? The stories are classic! They pop up EVERYWHERE. He has influenced just about every writer / actor who has ever lived. He even influences your LANGUAGE.LANGUAGE Why do ADOLESCENTS have such a hard time studying Shakespeare? The language – it’s 400 years old They tend not to see it as “Entertainment”

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

“There are separate galleries and there one stands more comfortably and moreover can sit, but one pays more for it. Thus anyone who remains on the level standing pays only one English penny: but if he wants to sit, he is let in at a farther door, and there he gives another penny. If he desires to sit on a cushion in the most comfortable place of all, where he not only sees everything well, but can also be seen then he gives yet another English penny at another door. And in the pauses of the comedy food and drink are carried round amongst the people and one can thus refresh himself at his own cost”

Examples? Lords & ladies Landowners Merchants General workers Prostitutes Cut-purses Sailors – from out of town

In “Shakespearian English” (i.e.: lots of stereotypical description) describe what happened to you as you came to school this morning – in 6 lines, finish with a rhyming couplet. Proper language! Blank Verse – IAMBIC PENTAMETER Finish with a RHYMING COUPLET Be prepared to read your piece to the class!

Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine = You and Your Art = Are Would = Wish Ay = Yes Give Me Leave To = Allow Me To Alas = Unfortunately Adieu = Goodbye -eth (e.g. speaketh = speak) Don’t, Do and Did (they didn’t exist! Ha!)