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Elizabethan Elizabethan TheatreTheatre
TheTheEnglishEnglish
RenaissanceRenaissance1570-16201570-1620
The theatre of England during the The theatre of England during the 1500s was dominated by the writing 1500s was dominated by the writing and plays of William Shakespeare. He and plays of William Shakespeare. He is one of the most widely read and is one of the most widely read and performed playwrights of all time. His performed playwrights of all time. His plays are still studied and performed plays are still studied and performed today, and many have been made today, and many have been made into films.into films.
ShakespeareShakespeare
The RenaissanceThe Renaissance
A period in history when many A period in history when many exciting and inspirational beliefs and exciting and inspirational beliefs and works were created.works were created.
A time of new learning and ideasA time of new learning and ideasDevelopment of philosophy: Development of philosophy:
questioning human individuality, questioning human individuality, intelligence and the meaning of lifeintelligence and the meaning of life
A time of revival of classical art and A time of revival of classical art and philosophyphilosophy
At this time England was a very At this time England was a very proud and powerful nationproud and powerful nation
Queen Elizabeth I loved the theatre Queen Elizabeth I loved the theatre and supported itand supported it
Therefore the theatre of this time is Therefore the theatre of this time is called ‘Elizabethan Theatre”called ‘Elizabethan Theatre”
Queen Elizabeth I of EnglandQueen Elizabeth I of England
‘‘The Swan’ Playhouse 1596The Swan’ Playhouse 1596
Elizabethan TheatresElizabethan Theatres
Theatres were commonly called Theatres were commonly called ‘playhouses’‘playhouses’
The first playhouse was built by The first playhouse was built by James Burbage in London in 1576James Burbage in London in 1576
This playhouse was called “The This playhouse was called “The Theatre”Theatre”
James Burbage’s son became a great James Burbage’s son became a great Elizabethan actorElizabethan actor
The playhouses were all wooden The playhouses were all wooden structuresstructures
They had circular wallsThey had circular wallsThey had an open air centre called They had an open air centre called
‘the pit’ – this centre did not have a ‘the pit’ – this centre did not have a roofroof
The stage was raisedThe stage was raised
The stage was surrounded by The stage was surrounded by audience on three sidesaudience on three sides
Behind the backstage wall was the Behind the backstage wall was the backstage areabackstage area
The backstage area was used for The backstage area was used for dressing rooms, scenery and special dressing rooms, scenery and special FX machineryFX machinery
A. The "Hut," with machinery for lowering the "Heavenly Throne" to the stage.
B. The "Heavens"
C. Top stage, sometimes used as music gallery
D. Upper stage
E. Window stages
F. Inner stage, sometimes called the study
G. "Traps" leading down to the "Hell" under the stage
H. "Gentleman's Rooms" or "Lords' Rooms"
J. Storage lofts, dressing rooms, etc.
K. Dressing rooms
L. Backstage area
M. Main entrances to auditorium
N. Doorways connecting with gallery staircase.
O. Entrances to galleries and staircases
Playhouse stage with ‘the pit’ in Playhouse stage with ‘the pit’ in front and levels of audience front and levels of audience
seating on three sidesseating on three sides
Playhouse seating – 2Playhouse seating – 2ndnd level level
Playhouse roofs were made of Playhouse roofs were made of thatched straw and woodthatched straw and wood
Musicians played from the upper Musicians played from the upper gallery or ‘musicians gallery’gallery or ‘musicians gallery’
Scenery and props were usually self Scenery and props were usually self supporting and painted, as in supporting and painted, as in medieval productionsmedieval productions
But real props were such as furniture But real props were such as furniture pieces were also usedpieces were also used
Not Just For Plays!!Not Just For Plays!!
The actual stage was portable and The actual stage was portable and was sometimes moved from the was sometimes moved from the playhouse to use for ‘sporting playhouse to use for ‘sporting events’events’
These ‘sporting events’ involved the These ‘sporting events’ involved the baiting and killing of animals!baiting and killing of animals!
Bear BaitingBear Baiting
CostumesCostumes
Actors wore the clothes that were in Actors wore the clothes that were in fashion at the time except for special fashion at the time except for special types of non human characters, such as types of non human characters, such as fairiesfairies
Even when actors were playing characters Even when actors were playing characters from another time in past history they from another time in past history they wore the clothes of the current periodwore the clothes of the current period
Costumes were beautiful, detailed and Costumes were beautiful, detailed and expensiveexpensive
Making costumes for “Henry Making costumes for “Henry IV” IV” by Shakespeareby Shakespeare
Elizabethan Acting Elizabethan Acting CompaniesCompanies
Actors belonged to companies of ten Actors belonged to companies of ten to twenty mento twenty men
Women were not allowed to act so Women were not allowed to act so males played all female roles!males played all female roles!
Each company had its own managerEach company had its own managerEach company also had patrons who Each company also had patrons who
supported them financiallysupported them financially
The companies were professionally run to The companies were professionally run to make moneymake money
Actors were very dedicated as this was Actors were very dedicated as this was their career, their profession for lifetheir career, their profession for life
As well as acting skills they could also As well as acting skills they could also sing, dance and play musical instrumentssing, dance and play musical instruments
Backstage crew and musicians were also Backstage crew and musicians were also paid for their workpaid for their work
The Hazards of Being an The Hazards of Being an Elizabethan ActorElizabethan Actor
Life was not easy for the actors because Life was not easy for the actors because many things could go wrongmany things could go wrong
Playhouses could burn down – they were Playhouses could burn down – they were made of wood and thatch!made of wood and thatch!
In times of contagious diseases such as In times of contagious diseases such as plague, the playhouses were closed to plague, the playhouses were closed to stop the spread of infection, so the actors stop the spread of infection, so the actors had no way to earn a livinghad no way to earn a living
Winters were bitterly cold and playhouses Winters were bitterly cold and playhouses did not have heatingdid not have heating
Some companies toured their plays and Some companies toured their plays and performed outdoorsperformed outdoors
Audiences were often rough and rowdy, Audiences were often rough and rowdy, unlike the polite way in which theatre unlike the polite way in which theatre goers behave in theatres todaygoers behave in theatres today
Audiences loved going to the playhouses Audiences loved going to the playhouses because it was the most popular form of because it was the most popular form of entertainment in Elizabethan Englandentertainment in Elizabethan England
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
The Bard – Shakespeare 1564 - The Bard – Shakespeare 1564 - 16161616
Born at Stratford-on-Avon in EnglandBorn at Stratford-on-Avon in EnglandShakespeare was considered a Shakespeare was considered a
geniusgeniusHe wrote more than 36 playsHe wrote more than 36 playsHis plays were renowned for their His plays were renowned for their
powerful language, their clever powerful language, their clever crafting and the depth of crafting and the depth of characterisationcharacterisation
Little is known about Shakespeare’s lifeLittle is known about Shakespeare’s life He was married at 18 to Anne HathawayHe was married at 18 to Anne Hathaway They had three children: a daughter and They had three children: a daughter and
twin sons. One of the twins, Hamnet, died twin sons. One of the twins, Hamnet, died in childhoodin childhood
After his marriage he went to work as a After his marriage he went to work as a playwright and actor in Londonplaywright and actor in London
How Shakespeare would have How Shakespeare would have livedlived
Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon
The PlaysThe Plays
Shakespeare wrote tragedies, Shakespeare wrote tragedies, comedies and historiescomedies and histories
His plays dealt with deep human His plays dealt with deep human experiences that his audiences could experiences that his audiences could relate torelate to
The histories dealt with stories of The histories dealt with stories of past Kings, but were often written to past Kings, but were often written to please Queen Elizabeth I rather than please Queen Elizabeth I rather than being factualbeing factual
Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet
One of his famous plays “Romeo and One of his famous plays “Romeo and Juliet” is about two young innocent lovers Juliet” is about two young innocent lovers torn apart by family conflicttorn apart by family conflict
Although it was written 400 years ago it Although it was written 400 years ago it still speaks to our modern audiences. It still speaks to our modern audiences. It has been made into a number of films has been made into a number of films during the past 40 years and the one with during the past 40 years and the one with Leonardo di Caprio was hugely successfulLeonardo di Caprio was hugely successful
Baz Luhrman’s film version Baz Luhrman’s film version 19961996
Love at first sight (at the fancy Love at first sight (at the fancy dress party)dress party)
Juliet in LoveJuliet in Love
The Tragic End – Both Lovers The Tragic End – Both Lovers DieDie
The language of the plays is poetic, The language of the plays is poetic, often written in a poetry form called often written in a poetry form called ‘iambic pentameter’‘iambic pentameter’
The language is powerful with The language is powerful with beautiful verse and poetrybeautiful verse and poetry
Regardless of the poetry Regardless of the poetry Shakespeare was able to keep the Shakespeare was able to keep the plays fast moving and excitingplays fast moving and exciting
The ComediesThe Comedies
The comedies were much more light The comedies were much more light heartedhearted
More like some of the Commedia More like some of the Commedia dell’arte plays, except that they were dell’arte plays, except that they were scripted, rather than improvisedscripted, rather than improvised
The same themes were common: The same themes were common: love, betrayal, mistaken identitylove, betrayal, mistaken identity
Modern Shakespeare Theatre Modern Shakespeare Theatre CompaniesCompanies
There are many theatre companies There are many theatre companies in the 21in the 21stst century who specialise in century who specialise in performing Shakespeare’s playsperforming Shakespeare’s plays
Bell Shakespeare in AustraliaBell Shakespeare in AustraliaRoyal Shakespeare Company in Royal Shakespeare Company in
EnglandEnglandBell Shakespeare modernises the Bell Shakespeare modernises the
settings and the costumes but not settings and the costumes but not the wordsthe words
Measure For Measure – a Measure For Measure – a comedy by Shakespeare – by comedy by Shakespeare – by
Bell Shakespeare Co.Bell Shakespeare Co.
Shakespeare’s roleShakespeare’s role
He was a stakeholder in “The Globe” He was a stakeholder in “The Globe” playhouse which was built in 1599playhouse which was built in 1599
His plays were performed at “The Globe” His plays were performed at “The Globe” to huge audiences though not as large as to huge audiences though not as large as the ancient Greek audiencesthe ancient Greek audiences
He had his own theatre company called He had his own theatre company called “The King’s Men” which was supported by “The King’s Men” which was supported by the Lord Chamberlain’s menthe Lord Chamberlain’s men
““The Globe”The Globe”
Other Famous Elizabethan Other Famous Elizabethan PlaywrightsPlaywrights
Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe He died at the age of 29 in rather mysterious He died at the age of 29 in rather mysterious
circumstances, probably murderedcircumstances, probably murdered He wrote many plays though not as many as He wrote many plays though not as many as
ShakespeareShakespeare His most famous play is “Doctor Faustus”; a play His most famous play is “Doctor Faustus”; a play
about a man who sells his soul to the devil. It is about a man who sells his soul to the devil. It is similar to the morality plays of the Middle Ages similar to the morality plays of the Middle Ages but much more finely crafted.but much more finely crafted.
He also wrote plays much more like He also wrote plays much more like Shakespeare’s including history plays about past Shakespeare’s including history plays about past kingskings
Christopher Marlowe 1564 - Christopher Marlowe 1564 - 15931593
Ben JonsonBen Jonson He lived a troubled life like MarloweHe lived a troubled life like Marlowe His comic plays included “Volpone” and His comic plays included “Volpone” and
“Every Man in His Humour”“Every Man in His Humour” These comic plays made fun of all types of These comic plays made fun of all types of
peoplepeople Jonson also wrote special performances for Jonson also wrote special performances for
the new Royal leaders called “Masques”. the new Royal leaders called “Masques”. They were very elaborate and aimed at They were very elaborate and aimed at impressing Royaltyimpressing Royalty
Ben Jonson 1572-1637Ben Jonson 1572-1637
The End of Elizabethan The End of Elizabethan TheatreTheatre
The quality of theatre declinedThe quality of theatre declinedThe emphasis became more on being The emphasis became more on being
spectacularspectacularThe new Puritan religion objected The new Puritan religion objected
and saw theatre as sinful and a and saw theatre as sinful and a waste of moneywaste of money
Many inferior plays were being written and Many inferior plays were being written and performedperformed
These plays focused on violence and These plays focused on violence and bloody death, and the Puritan government bloody death, and the Puritan government banned all playsbanned all plays
By the time of the English Civil War in By the time of the English Civil War in 1642 all playhouses were closed down1642 all playhouses were closed down
This ban on theatre lasted for twenty yearsThis ban on theatre lasted for twenty years
And so, with religion, another And so, with religion, another era of theatre also ends…era of theatre also ends…