1. During Shakespeare’s Time
The Theater
During Shakespeare’s Time

2. Elizabethan Theater Called this to honor the queen, Queen Elizabeth I
She loved art, music, drama, and poetry
She liked Shakespeare’s plays and protected him

3. Important People to the Theater
The “Master of Revels” was the official censor of plays
He approved or censored content
A patron sponsored an acting company
A patron is a rich citizen of high rank who backed an acting company

4. James I Became king in 1603 Was a supporter of drama
James became the patron of Shakespeare’s acting company
They changed their company name from Lord Chamberlain’s Men to the King’s Men

5. The Theater London’s first theater Built in 1576
Owned by James Burbage
The first theater derived its shape from the inns
Torn down in 1599

6. The Globe Theater Built in 1599 In Southwark (near London)
Was financed by James Burbage’s sons
Construced out of the timber from The Theater

7. The Globe Called the “wooden O” Resembled a small football stadium
Unroofed yard in the center

8. Parts of the Globe Yard (where groundlings stood) Permanent Door
(stage entrance and exit)
Platform (main acting area)

9. Parts of the Globe Chamber Galleries Terras Trap Door Study
(upper stage)
Galleries
(3 tiers of seats for audience members)
Terras
(balcony)
Trap Door
(lead to an area beneath the stage known as Hell)
Study
(inner stage)

10. Parts of the Globe Flag Canopy Huts Musician’s Gallery
(represented the sky)
Huts
(represented the Heavens)
Musician’s Gallery

11. The Globe
Peasants who paid a penny and stood in the yard to watch a performance were called groundlings
Wealthier spectators could spend 2-3 pennies to sit in the galleries
Seating/standing capacity of 3000

12. Performances
Held in the afternoon (2:00) because there was no artificial lighting
Without microphones, actors would often have to shout lines
A flag would be hoisted on the day of a performance
The start of a play was signaled by a trumpet sounding 3 times

13. Staging and Scenery Most plays lasted two hours
There was little interruption because scenery wasn’t used
The audience gained an understanding of the play from the costumes, props, music, sound effects, and dialogue
Setting was established with words

14. Costumes
Were colorful and expensive
Usually donated by rich patrons

15. Costumes
Would establish a character’s status (wealthy, poor, soldier, king, etc.)
Was symbolic of a character’s morality
White = purity
Black = evil
Red = violence, blood

16. Acting Companies Consisted of 25-30 actors Female roles played by boys
Each company had a clown for comic relief
Plays were written with actors and their abilities in mind

17. Shakespeare’s Acting Company
Richard Burbage (a great tragic actor in Shakespeare’s company)
Will Kempe (a famous comedian in Shakepeare’s company)
Richard
Burbage
Shakespeare

18. The Life of the Globe
Burned down in 1613 when a cannon shot caught the roof on fire
Rebuilt in 1614
Closed in 1642 by the Puritans (thought the theater was sinful)
Torn down in 1644

19. The New Globe Theater
A replica of The Globe now stands on the original site
It was a 45 million dollar reconstruction
Opened in 1997