1. The Elizabethan Stage The Elizabethan Stage Early Elizabethan Theaters
Feature Menu
The Elizabethan Stage
Early Elizabethan Theaters
The First Permanent Theater
The Globe
The Globe’s Stage
The Sets
The Actors
The Audience

2. The Elizabethan Stage
The Elizabethan stage was very different from the type of stage most common today—the proscenium stage.
Elizabethan Stage
Proscenium Stage
Platform or “thrust” stage that extended into the audience area.
Inner stage that is separated from the audience by a large curtain
Simple or no sets
Often have elaborate and realistic sets
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3. Early Elizabethan Theaters
Before permanent theaters were built, wandering acting companies set up stages—or platforms—in the courtyards of inns.
The audience stood around three sides of the stage or sat in balconies surrounding the inn yard.
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4. The First Permanent Theater
The first permanent theater in England was
built by James Burbage in 1576
located outside the city walls of London
called “The Theater”
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5. The Globe
The Globe Theater was built using the timbers from “The Theater.”
When Burbage’s landlord raised the rent and threatened to take over “The Theater,” members of Burbage’s company tore down the structure and stealthily transported the timbers across the river on the night of January 20, 1599.

6. The Globe
Shakespeare’s greatest plays were performed in The Globe Theater. It
had an open area about sixty-five feet in diameter surrounded by a circular (or polygonal) building
had three tiers of seating
was called the “wooden O” in Henry V
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7. The Globe’s Stage The Globe’s main stage was forty-by-thirty feet
stood five feet off the ground
projected into the courtyard
had trapdoors in the floor
main stage

8. The Globe’s Stage The Globe’s inner stage was curtained off
flanked by two entrances
upper stage
had an upper stage above it
inner stage

9. The Globe’s Stage The roof above the stage was called “The Heavens.”
Actors could be lowered from the Heavens by cranes.
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10. The Sets Shakespeare did not use realistic or elaborate sets.
He “set” the scene with language and depended on the audience’s power of imagination.
A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets, And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
He could change scenes quickly and fluidly.

11. The Sets
Shakespeare did not use stage lighting because the plays were performed during the day in the open air.
Actors carried torches to convey the idea of night.

12. The Sets Shakespeare did use elaborate costumes
props—flags and banners
special effects—actors appearing and disappearing through trapdoors
sound effects—cannons and music
The destruction of the Globe Theater
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13. The Actors
All actors were male in Shakespeare’s time. Female roles were played by professionally trained boy actors who
wore elaborate and concealing costumes with long, full skirts
wore elaborate wigs
powdered their faces heavily
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14. The Audience The audience at Elizabethan theaters
arrived early, visited with friends, and moved around freely
ate and drank before and during the performance

15. The Audience
Playwrights had to write scenes that would capture the audience’s attention.
Actors used vigorous and flamboyant gestures and expressions and moved about the stage.
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16. The End

17. The Globe
The Globe Theater has been reconstructed near its former location in London.
The queen of England attended its opening in 1997.
Shakespeare’s plays are performed there today.

18. The Globe

19. The Globe’s Stage Trapdoors could be used for
entrances and exits for ghosts
descents into hell

20. The Globe’s Stage The upper stage or balcony could be used as
the high walls of castle
the bridge of a ship
upper stage

21. The Sets The Destruction of the Globe Theater
The Globe Theater burned down in 1613.
During the battle scene of Henry VII, a spark from a lit cannon fuse flew up and started a fire in the thatched roof of the Heavens.