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…