2. William Shakespeare The Bard 1564 - 1616
TEACHERS: See the notes on many of the slides for additional lecture notes.
Presentation © T. Orman, , updated 2015

3. Shakespeare's Birth, Childhood, and Early Adulthood
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4. Childhood Born April 23 (we think), 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon, England
His father was a local prominent merchant and served as alderman and bailiff for the city (both important roles in the city's government).
The only record we have of Shakespeare being born is his baptism on April 26, Because baptisms usually took place three days after birth, his birthday is believed to be April 23, 1564.
Shakespeare's baptismal record on April 26, 1564.
Presentation © T. Orman, , updated 2015

5. Presentation © T. Orman, 2002-2003, updated 2015

6. Family Life
Married Ann Hathaway in November of (he was 18, she was 26)
William and Ann were issued a marriage license on Nov. 27, Six months later, their daughter Susanna was born (May 26, 1583).
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7. The Theatres in London

8. About the theatres
Performances are banned in London due to the Bubonic Plague, so actors look for places to perform outside the city limits.
Though many authorities in London despised the plays, Queen Elizabeth loved them.
Later, Puritans condemn the plays and deem them immoral.
Presentation © T. Orman, , updated 2015

9. The Theatres... The Theatre The Rose The Swan The Globe
The Blackfriars (indoor)
There were many additional theatres, but these were the more well-known and ones associated with Shakespeare.

10. Shakespeare helped construct in 1598-1599
The Globe was owned by Richard Burbage and actors in The Lord Chamberlain's Men troupe. Richard Burbage and his brother each owned 25%, William Shakespeare, John Heminges, Augustine Phillips, and Thomas Pope each owned 12.5%. The Globe was rebuilt near the original site and the new one opened in More on The Globe and its reconstruction in later slides.
The Globe,
Shakespeare helped construct in

11. The outdoor ampitheaters were constructed in an oval or polygon shape with two or three tiers of seating for spectators. The floor was was standing room only.

12. "Jacobean" Theatres The first Blackfriars Theatre, 1576-1584
The second Blackfriars Theatre,
Were indoor theatres in the nicer part of London
Originally, the building was part of a Dominican monastery. The residents nearby did not want performances held there, so they petitioned and won.
The Blackfriars theatre is considered a "Jacobean" style theatre. The Jacobean era refers to the time period that King James VI ruled Scotland ( ), and later inherited the English throne in 1603.

13. "Jacobean" Theatres
Richard Burbage (prominent actor) owned the second theater and, beginning in 1609, it was used in the winter to perform many of Shakespeare's plays.

14. -visitors from other countries -nobility & royalty
People who attended the theatres included:
-merchants
-lawyers
-laborers
-prostitutes
-visitors from other countries
-nobility & royalty
At a nice indoor theater like Blackfriars, tickets started at a sixpence (about $10 in today's currency). You could sit on the stage for two shillings ($40) or buy a box for half-a-crown ($50).
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15. •No scenery--just a curtain •Could hold around 2,000 people
•No lighting
•No scenery--just a curtain
•Could hold around 2,000 people
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16. The theatres were closed during the Bubonic Plague
in 1593, 1596, 1603, and 1608.
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17. FLAGS: white = comedy; black = tragedy; red = history
Theatre owners and acting troupes had little time to advertise and many of the theatre-goers couldn't read. Therefore, they used a flag system to let audiences know when a play would be performed. Sometimes they used pictures on the flags, and sometimes just colors.
The color of flag outside the theatre would indicate what type of play would be performed.
A ticket to the Globe Theatre in Shakespeare's time would have cost you a penny, or $1.66 in today's money.
FLAGS: white = comedy; black = tragedy; red = history

18. Burning down the house...
The Globe went up in flames on June 29, 1613 during a performance of Henry the VIII when a canon (part of the show) misfired and hit the wooden beams and thatch roof.
The theatre was rebuilt the following year. Eventually, however, it was torn down (in 1644) after the Puritans banned all plays in Tenements, or multi-dwelling houses, were built on the original site.

19. The Leading Playwrights and Actors in the 1590s-1600s

20. Acting Troupes
The actors were considered "shareholders" and owned stock or shares in the play texts, costumes, and props.
Their pay depended on admission sales.
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21. Acting
The actors were all men; young boys (age 12-14) played the female parts.
Younger men and boys played the roles of women.

22. Acting troupes would perform plays per year, with the majority of them being brand new plays.
Presentation © T. Orman, , updated 2015

23. Costumes... •Richly decorated
•Didn't always match up to the time period of the play
•Looking good was more important than being realistic!

24. Costumes...