The Theater

During Shakespeare’s Time

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

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

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

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

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

The Globe

   Called the “wooden O” Resembled a small football stadium Unroofed yard in the center

Parts of the Globe

Permanent Door (stage entrance and exit) Platform (main acting area) Yard (where groundlings stood)

Parts of the Globe

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

Parts of the Globe

Flag Canopy (represented the sky ) Huts (represented the Heavens) Musician’s Gallery

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

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

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

Costumes

  Were colorful and expensive Usually donated by rich patrons

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

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

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

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

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