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Renaissance Drama

Renaissance Drama. A Short History. Renaissance Drama. The Renaissance (rebirth) began in Italy, 13 th C. Spread to rest of Europe 15 th C. Themes shifted from religious (salvation) to education (about the world and people) and politics Rise of professional writers and actors mid 1500s

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Renaissance Drama

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  1. Renaissance Drama A Short History

  2. Renaissance Drama • The Renaissance (rebirth) began in Italy, 13th C. • Spread to rest of Europe 15th C. • Themes shifted from religious (salvation) to education (about the world and people) and politics • Rise of professional writers and actors mid 1500s • Educated young men • No desire to enter church • Began writing plays for a living • Acting companies performed plays • Often sponsored by wealthy patron • Could travel with patron’s permission • Performed in Playhouses

  3. Italian Drama • Weak imitation of Classical plays • Cheap obscenities • Poor scripts • Theater architecture and stage equip developed more • Colored and perspective lighting introduced • Operas • Attempt at reviving simplicity and humanism of Ancient Greek Drama • Introduced music (songs) • Solo vocals w/ simple instrument accompaniment

  4. English Drama • Became vital force in lives of the people. • England produced some of best writers on Earth. • Perfected and refined drama • 1566 saw first prose drama (most still poetry) • Rise of permanent playhouses (as opposed to Pageant wagons and mansions) • Richard Burbage 1566 “The Theater” the first in England

  5. English Playwrights • Most playwrights specialized in one area • Christopher Marlow-tragedy • Introduced blank verse • Ben Jonson-Comedy • William Shakespeare—Tragedy, Comedy, History • Greatest playwright of all time • Was an actor first • Built The Globe Theater 1598 with partners • Theaters closed in 1642 by Puritan Parliament for being immoral. • Began to reappear in 1660s but new era in theater would begin.

  6. The Globe Theater

  7. Many playwrights with nowhere to “play” • Barn turned into theatre (Yeah!) • Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!) • Globe built! (Yeah!) • Globe burns (Sniff. Darn cannon!) • Globe rebuilt! (Yeah!) • Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!)

  8. The Globe Theatre1599 The Lord Chamberlain’s Men builttheGlobe Theaterwhere most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed. The New Globe Theater--Rebuilt in the 1990s

  9. Aristocrats • The Queen/King • The Groundlings! Interior Drawing—We only know about it based on notes and drawings. Nothing was left but the foundation.

  10. The Theater • Plays produced for the general public • Roofless open air • No artificial lighting • The stage jutted out into the pit • Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries • Gallery above stage used for musicians, or as actors balcony.

  11. Three stories high • 100 feet in diameter • Rectangular stage 43 ft wide and 28 feet deep • Could hold about 3000 people • The first globe theatre was made out of reeds, plaster, and timber. • Plays only performed during the day—flag flown on plays days • Few no props or setting—dialogue gave details

  12. When in a play... • Only men were permitted to perform • Boys whose voices had not changed or effeminate men were used to play the women • Considered indecent for women to be on the stage. • Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset • Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers

  13. Spectators • Wealthy got benches • “Groundlings” - poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) • All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate • Much more interaction than today • They would throw rotten food at the actors if it was bad.

  14. The Cost of a Show • 1 shilling to stand • 2 shillings to sit in the balcony • 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income • Broadway Today: • $85 Orchestra • $60 Balcony • 10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

  15. The Globe – Interior

  16. Roofless open air theatrePlays were performed rain or shineA canopy covered the stage

  17. Staging Areas • Stage extended into the pit • Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage • Second-level gallery, upper stage is famous balcony scene in R & J • Trap door – witches and ghosts exit/enter • “Heavens” angelic beings • A flag above the hut designated comedy or tragedy

  18. Differences from modern theatres • No scenery • The actors had to have good memories, nothing was written down. • Settings references in dialogue • Elaborate costumes • Plenty of props • Fast-paced, colorful 2 hours!

  19. An interactive view

  20. The End

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