Theatre of Elizabethan England

The English Renaissance As with the rest of Europe, during the English Renaissance there was a growing secularization of thought. Shortly after Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, she decreed that no plays dealing with religious or political subjects were to be performed.

Commercial Theatre Because the state, church and wealthy individuals had withdrawn their funding, theatre was forced to become commercial. Rather than occasional, official and free, theatre became continuous, self- supporting, and entertaining to keep the public coming back.

Professional groups Had to be able to play often, to have a stock of plays large enough to keep the audience coming back and have a large performance space. Had to control their own costumes, scenery and other production elements and had to assemble a company of full time actors and production personnel.

Actors are vagrants Since acting was not an accepted profession, actors were considered “masterless” men meaning that no one was responsible for them. They were considered vagrants and threats to the social order and were subject to arrest and punishment.

Ways around arrest Acting companies petitioned noblemen to serve as their patrons. Companies had titles like the Lord Admiral’s Men and the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, but were given little financial support.

Acting Companies Made up of about 25 people, all men, about half of which were shareholders in the company. A number of hired men were paid weekly wages as actors, prompters, musicians, stage hands or costumers. There were 4-6 apprentices, boys who played female roles.

The Globe Held about 3000 people. Basically round with an exterior diameter of approx. 99 feet. Three levels of roofed galleries enclosed in an unroofed space (the yard) approx. 74 feet in diameter

More on the Globe The stage extended to the middle of the yard and was approx. 41 feet wide and 25 feet deep and raised 5-6 feet above the yard. The stage was sheltered by a roof.

Architecture of the Globe At the back of the stage was a multilevel façade. At least two large doors on the stage level permitted exits and entrances. The second level had an acting space used to represent balconies, windows, etc.

Spoken decor The background for all scenes was the façade and the specific location of a scene was established through dialogue. This greatly facilitated staging because one scene could flow into the next without a pause for changing scenery.

Costumes and Lighting Most characters, regardless of the historical era of the action, were clothed in Elizabethan garments appropriate to their rank, age, and profession. No masks, except as disguises. Lighting was simple because performances took place in unroofed structures during daylight hours. Darkness was indicated in dialogue and by carrying candles, torches or lanterns.

Atmosphere of plays There were no intermissions. Wine, beer, ale, nuts and playing cards were sold in the theatres by vendors who circulated during performances. The atmosphere was somewhat like that of a sports event. Keeping the audience attentive and quiet depended on the power of the play and the skill of the performers.

New Plays Were Needed There was a strong competition for audiences and plays did not have long runs. Normally, the bill was changed every day. New plays were performed once and then at intervals until they lost their appeal. In the 1590s, a London company produced a new play about every 17 days. The average life of a play was 10 shows.

Elizabethan playwrights New plays were in constant demand, a situation obviously favorable to playwrights. Thomas Kyd Christopher Marlowe Ben Jonson John Webster And, of course, William Shakespeare

Shakespeare Perhaps the greatest playwright of all time, very little is actually known about William Shakespeare. He lived from and was the son of John, a glove maker, and Mary. He married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior, and had three children with her, the first of which was conceived before their wedding.

Shakespearean facts According to records, Shakespeare did not graduate grammar school let alone from a university. The only handwriting samples for Shakespeare are six signatures, three incomplete and three on his will, all almost illegible—this is referred to in the opening sequence of the film Shakespeare in Love. In addition to a playwright, Shakespeare was also an actor.

The Shakespeare authorship controversy There have been many theories through the years that offer suggestions that the man named William Shakespeare did not actually write the plays. It has been theorized that everyone from Christopher Marlowe to the Earl of South Hampton to Queen Elizabeth herself were actually the authors.

The Plays of William Shakespeare 38 plays—some of which are: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Othello, King Lear, MacBeth, and As You Like It. In addition to his plays, Shakespeare authored over 150 sonnets.