Elizabethan Theatre

Overview

 History

 The ‘Players’

 Notable Playwrights

 Costumes, Props and Sets

 Types of Elizabethan Theatres

 A Brief History

 1576 – 1678

 “Elizabethan Theatre”is a general term

covering the plays written and performed publicly
in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
(1558 – 1603).

 Derived from Medieval Theatre traditions such as

mystery plays.
 A Brief History (continued)

 Temporary companies of players attached to households of

leading noblemen that performed seasonally in various
locations existed before the reign of Elizabeth I and became
the foundation for the professional players that performed on
the Elizabethan stage (repertory).

 The attitude of the local London government towards public

performances was hostile however it was outmatched by the
Queen’s taste for plays and the Privy council’s support.
 The Players

 The Players simply refers to the actors.

 All actors were men and younger boys would play female
characters.
 Actors would form groups
called companies (eg: the
Queen’s men) that would be
sponsored by nobles in order
to gain political protection.
 Needed to memorize as many
as 50 different parts for 25
differentplays in a single
month as plays were rarely
repeated.
 Elizabethan Plays

 Intricate plots with deeper and more varied characterization.

 Growing emphasis on “real life” situations.
 Comedies usually ended in marriage.
-Eg: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merry Wives of Windsor.
 History plays were based off of lives of people and events that
had transpired.
-Eg: Henry V, Henry VIII, Richard II.
 Tragedies were plays with tragic heroes
that undergo a series of unfortunate
events which usually leads to the
death of a lead character.
-Eg: Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet
 Notable Playwrights

 William Shakespeare
(26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616)
-English poet and playwright
-Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets and several
poems
- Eg: Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar.
 Christopher Marlowe
(26 February 1564 – 30 May 1593)
-English dramatist, poet and translator
-Believed to have written 6 plays
-Eg: Doctor Faustus, The Massacre at Paris.
-Stabbed to death.
 Costumes

 Expensive and elaborate

-Embroidery, ruffs, pearls, lace, etc.
 Brightly coloured
 Helped distinguish various characters
 Sets

 No sets or backdrops because they wanted the

audience to use their imagination to create the
scenery.

 No modern lighting (candles

and natural light).

 Words were more valued

than scenery.
 Props

 Very important - make up for a lack of set.

 Expensive so they did not have many.

 Took a lot of time to make.

 Certain props symbolized certain places.

-Eg: chairs, tables and mugs symbolized a tavern to the audience.

 Large scale props such as cannons have been known to

be used.
 Types of Theatres

 Inn Yards

 Playhouses

 Amphitheatres
 Inn Yards

 Very popular as it provided alcohol and lodging.

 Performances were held in private Inns.
 A small fee was charged to playgoers as they entered the
inn-yard.
 An additional fee was added on
if they wanted to go up to a
balcony level.
 The Audience capacity was up to
500 people.
 Inn Yards

 All of the major inns had large cobblestone yards where the
plays were performed on.
 There was gambling and even
bear baiting in some of the
Inn yards.
 The stage was constructed on
moveable platforms supported
by Trestles (rigid frame used
as support).
 The temporary stages were
erected by the actors.
 Lighting – natural lighting was
used as most of the plays were in the afternoon.
 Playhouses

 Elizabethan playhouses provided indoor venues for the production of

Elizabethan plays.
 The venues were smaller androofed.
 Suitable for winter and evening
productions.
 Admittance to the Playhouses was more
expensive.
 Indoor Playhouses were exclusive - the
cost prohibited the attendance of most
common folk.
 Playhouses

 The Audience capacity was up to 500 people.

 The Great Halls in existing, prestigious buildings were used as
playhouses for plays and performances.
 The indoor Playhouses were lighted by candles so plays could
be staged at night.

 The use of candles led to the

introduction of intervals
when candles that were
burnt out are replaced.
 Playhouses

 Food and drinks were served, or sold, during the intervals.

 Music and songs were strongly featured - the acoustics of

indoor theatres helped in this area.

 Beautiful scenerywas introduced (backdrops).

 The plays were selected to suit the indoor venues.

 Amphitheatres

 The Elizabethan Amphitheatre was built in a similar style,

but on a smaller scale, to the Roman Amphitheatres.
 It was designed to hold a capacity of up to 3000 people.
 One the most popular Elizabethan amphitheatres is the
globe theatre.
 Globe Theatre

 The Globe theatre was built in 1599 the Globe Theatre was
opened on Bankside - the South of London.
 Up to 100 feet in diameter
 Stage dimensions of the theatre varied from 20 foot wide 15
foot deep to 45 feet to 30 feet

 Design and built based on the

Colosseum, but on a smaller
scale.
 Stage was raised - 3 to 5 feet,
supported by large pillars.
 Globe Theatre

 Globe theatre took 6 months to build.

 The Building materials - Timber, nails, stone (flint), plaster and
thatched roofs.
 Octagonal structure or circular in shape having between 8 and
24 sides
 Used natural lighting as
plays were produced in the
afternoon. However there was
some artificial lighting mainly
intended to provide
atmosphere for night scenes.
Interior of Globe Theatre
Interior of the Globe Theatre
 Interior of Globe Theatre

 The Galleries - The galleries had rows of wooden seats

and were accessed from a back corridor and had a roof
offering shelter from bad or rainy weather.

 Stairs and Access – usually only one main entrance, but

later designs had more stairs into the galleries.

 The Stage– where the performance occurs.

 The Pit/Yard- the cheapest part of the Globe Theater and

the audience had to stand. Surrounding the stage on all 3
sides.
 Interior of the Globe Theatre

 The Heavens - an area hidden from the audience, A selection of ropes &
rigging would allow for special effects, such as flying or dramatic entries

 The FronsScenae- a doorway to the left and right and a curtained central
doorway from which the actors made their entrances

 Lord's rooms- used by the rich members of the audience, the Upper
Classes and the Nobility, were considered the best seats in the house.

 Gentlemen's rooms- These seats were for rich patrons of the Globe
theatre.

 Tiring House- The actors used this area to change their attire.

 The Hut - used as a covered storage space for the acting troupe.
 Bibliography

 http://www.william-shakespeare.info/site-map.htm
 http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk
 http://shakespearean.org.uk/elizthea1.htm
 http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/elizabethan-theatre.asp
 http://workforce.calu.edu/aune/images/InnYard
 http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lookandlearn-
preview/N/N811/N811542
 http://workforce.calu.edu/aune/images/Amphitheater3
 http://www.cwu.edu/~mahnkee/globetheater
 http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/theatre/images/kacey7