1. The English Renaissance

2. The phrase Elizabethan theatre is used at times improperly to mean English Renaissance theatre although in a strict sense "Elizabethan" only refers to the period of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, which ended with her death in 1603

3. In the medieval times The performers were not professional actors, but ordinary citizens who acted only in their spare time. Most plays were performed in and around the church and the church kept a careful eye on what was being performed.

4. English Renaissance drama grew out of the established mystery and morality plays that everyone was so familiar with. At the end of the fifteenth century, a new type of play appeared. These short plays were performed at noble households and at court, especially at holiday times. These short plays were called interludes. These plays slowly moved completely away from religion and became solely secular.

5. During this time the reformation occurred throughout England and classical humanism became very popular. The educated started learning ancient Latin and Greek and enjoyed the old plays. They liked the philosophical depth but also the pure entertainment of the Hellenistic new comedy. Writers were also developing English tragedies for the first time, influenced by Greek and Latin writers.

6. The first prominent English tragedy was Gorboduc (1561)
The first prominent English tragedy was Gorboduc (1561). It was written by two lawyers, Thomas Sacksville and Thomas Norton, at the Inns of Court (schools of law). The play is important as it is the first English play in blank verse. Blank verse, non-rhyming lines in iambic pentameter

7. The best known playwright and poet from the Elizabethan era is William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Anne Hatheway when he was only 18, they had 3 children together. He had a prolific and successful career and died in 1616.

8. Early on in his career Shakespeare wrote mostly comedies and histories, then there was a period of time where he wrote tragedies followed by the end of his career where he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

9. The Globe Theatre was William Shakespeare’s theatre in London
The Globe Theatre was William Shakespeare’s theatre in London. It was built in 1599 by his company the Lord Chamberlain’s men.  It was a three-story, open-air amphitheater. that could house up to 3,000 spectators.

10. Theater was banned from London as a measure against the plague, and then formally expelled all players from the city in 1575. This prompted the construction of permanent playhouses outside the jurisdiction of London. This was simply on the other side of the river Thames which now runs right through the center of London. This place was considered a bad neighborhood with bars, brothels, rooster and dog fights and theaters. However the Queen loved theater and so it remained a part of the English culture. People knew their was going to be a performance by simply looking across the river. If a white flag was flying over a theater it meant a comedy would be performed that day.

11. During the Elizabethan era many of the people were still unable to read and write. The Globe Theatre Flags were a simple device which were used to advertise which play was to be performed that day. There was limited planning involved in respect of advertising. A raised flag was the signal that a play would be staged that afternoon and continued to fly until the end of every performance. White Globe Theatre flags were used to advertise that the play performed that day would be a comedy. Using white flag indicated that the play would be a light subject. Black Globe Theatre flags were used to advertise that the play performed that day would be a tragedy. Using a black flag indicated that the play would be a dark subject, associated with death. Red Globe Theatre flags were used to advertise that the play performed that day would be a history. Using a red flag indicated that the play would be a subject, associated with blood, as most plays based on history were!

12. The rising puritan movement greatly disliked theater
The rising puritan movement greatly disliked theater. They felt that entertainment was sinful. When the puritan political faction gained control of London they banned theater all together on September 2nd This was a very disrupt and complete stop to all the progress made in theater.