THE ELIZABETHAN THEATER

1558-1603

THE TIME PERIOD

England is small (5 million people)• There are more people in London today• U.S. today 300,000,000

England is dependent on agriculture and is

covered in forests

Large gap between rich and poor classes• Rich use land for pasteurization (depend on wool for

clothes)• Farmers face enclosure• Government unable to stop enclosure

THE TIME PERIOD

Trees are used for shipbuilding and manufacturing

Mining (coal, iron, tin, copper, lead) emerges

Too much pasteurization leads to high unemployment• Still considered “Land of Comforts” by other European nations

Heavy taxation

America is beginning to be discovered

England uses America’s resources to trade with Eastern Europe and the

Orient

Many Irish Rebellions and Riots take place

New scientific ideas challenge religious way of life (Old versus New)

NOW AND THEN

Became more symmetrical often in

E or H shapes• Thought to be a tribute to Queen

Elizabeth and King Henry

Built for comfort for the first time

over defense

Gardens are very popular

Privacy is becoming more important

Most things were made from wood • Stools, paneling, and carvings

were abundant

HOUSING

Shakespeare’s House

Light breakfast

Dinner starts at 11am and lasts 3

hours• Lower classes had dinner at noon

Small supper at 6pm• (7 or 8pm for the lower classes

Rich ate on silver, gold or delft• Lower classes ate on wood or

pewter

Cooking done over open flames• Meat cooked on a spit (turned by

a dog or circular treadmill)• Baking done in iron boxes on a fir

or in a brick oven in the fireplace

FOOD

DRESS FOR WOMENUnder Clothes -Smock or shift, also called -a chemise made of linen -Stockings or hose -Corset or bodice -Farthingale - a hooped skirt -A Roll or Rowle -Stomacher -Petticoat -Kirtle -Forepart -Partlet

Over Clothes -Gown -Separate sleeves -Ruff -Cloak -Shoes -Hat

DRESS FOR WOMEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP-OzK5MmjY

DRESS FOR MEN

Under Clothes -Shirt -Stockings or hose -Codpiece -Corset

Over Clothes -Doublet -Separate sleeves -Breeches -Belt -Ruff -Cloak -Shoes -Hat 

DRESS FOR MEN

THE ROYAL FAMILY

Henry VIII

Elizabeth I James I

THEATER HISTORY

Catholic Church had shut down Roman theaters• Gladiators/fighting contests

For almost 4 centuries, theater officially non-

existent in Western Europe

The church revives theater in the 10th century • Monks create songs and plays for religious

celebration (often lengthy)• Plays follow church calendar • Many non-religious people would come to watch and

be entertained

THEATER HISTORY

Secular plays considered immoral

Theater created controversy amongst England’s citizens

Common Council tries to ban theater in London saying it will bring

back the plague

Queen Elizabeth supports the theater, therefore the ban did not

stop plays from being performed

Plays often poked fun at the rich, but had to be carful not to upset

the patrons that supported the theater

In 1642, Puritans forced all theaters to close

THEATER APPEARANCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE2cr-fIvBA

• Audience sits on 3 sides of the stage

• No electricity• Very simple sets• Only men were allowed to act

THEATER GUESTS

Royalty, Rich, Poor

Social Status and Wealth determined seating• Rich sat in balconies, along the stage, or on the

stage• Poor stood in pits in the middle of the theater

All plays were preformed during the day due to

lighting

THEATER ECONOMICS

To stand on the ground (1 penny)• These peoples were nicknamed “groundlings”

To sit in the balcony (5 pennies or more)• There were 3 different levels• Cost depended on level

To sit on the stage (unknown)• Most expensive seat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtLB3Od2F0Y&feature=related

THEATER CREATE!

Create your own theater map• This should be historically accurate• This should show class divisions• This should contain a stage and audience• This should have labels for each theater

section• This should have a key showing the play

being shown and how much it costs to see it• This should have your name on the back