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The Globe. Shakespeare’s Theater The Wooden O. The beginning…. Acting companies toured the country performing at inns . The courtyard created the perfect venue for a performance. The shape of which lent its influence to later permanent theaters.
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The Globe Shakespeare’s Theater The Wooden O
The beginning… Acting companies toured the country performing at inns . The courtyard created the perfect venue for a performance. The shape of which lent its influence to later permanent theaters. Acting companies also performed for nobility or royalty in the great halls of their houses. This was very expensive, so these performance were only for the wealthiest patrons. The plays would be attended by not only the household but also their friends.
Although Shakespeare's plays were performed at other venues during the playwright's career, the Globe Theatre in Southwark, London, was the venue at which the Bard's best known stage works (including his four great tragedies) were first produced. We will look at the parts of the Globe to understand form and Function.
Who built The Globe? Where? The Globe theater was built 1599 in Southwark, London (This was the sleazy side of the river Thames.) Near brothels, gambling houses, bear-baiting pits, etc. • Shareholders—Richard Burbage, William Shakespeare, Cuthbert Burbage, James Burbage (there were 6 total) • These men were part of the acting company originally called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (formed in 1594) • Later became the King’s Men, named after King James I
The Globe Theater’s Shape • The Globe was obviously round in shape, containing 20 sides and three stories. • The center section was open to the elements; only the sides were covered. • Because the theater had no electricity, all performances were during the day to allow the sun to light the open air theater. • The roof was made of thatching: reeds tightly woven together. These are great drain spouts but also highly flammable.
Advertising Town criers would announce the play and entice the public to come to the play house that afternoon. The flag on the top of the theater was raised on performance days, and the color of the flag was significant. • Red = history • White = Comedy • Black = Tragedy
Vantage Points… • The Globe enclosed an open courtyard, which theater-goers called the “Pit” or the “Yard” • The patrons who stood here were fittingly called “The Groundlings.” Paid 1 penny = of a quarter of a day’s wage. • An extra pence bought admission to the Galleries—a covered area where one could sit and watch the play (Patrons could pay extra for a cushion.) • Lord’s Rooms above the stage next to the Upper Stage--Not the best seats to see the action, but the best seats to be seen. Most expensive seats in the house!
The action took place on the main stage—an area raised about 5-6 feet from the pit which was surrounded by the audience. Called a thrust stage instead of the proscenium stage we are most familiar with today. • The main stage contained a trap door used for ghosts, demons, or even a grave in the famous scene from Hamlet. • The back of the stage was called the inner stage, used mostly for indoor scenes, separated by curtains. Scenes of brief revelations.
The Heavens Painted Ceiling above the main stage. Painted with zodiac signs, stars, sun, moon, clouds, etc.
Elizabethan Costumes Given by aristocracy to the acting companies Purchased by companies Might have matched the play’s context, but non necessarily Color indicated class; illegal to wear purple or red by some classes--Sumtuary Laws didn’t apply to players during a play .
Actors • Seen as scoundrels and morally loose • Some made a comfortable living • Some like Ned Allyn or Richard Burbage had quite a following • Had to memorize multiple parts at one time • Never had an entire script at once , so had to memorize cue lines. • Women not allowed on stage • Female parts played by young boys
Scenery & Props • Shakespeare’s audience had to use their imaginations and his words to picturewhat was happening. • Little to no sets but very elaborate costumes & intense acting. • Used balcony/Upper Stage, Inner Stage, columns, and trapdoor • Verbal cues to indicate setting-place, time, mood, etc.“But soft what light through yonder window breaks…”Romeo & Juliet, Act II, Scene 2
The End of The Globe Theater • Tragically, the original Globe burned down in 1613 due to a cannon shot used as a prop during a performance of Henry VIII. • It was soon rebuilt, though, and remained open on its original foundations until the Puritans closed it in 1642, and the Globe II was torn down two years later to make room for housing. • Puritans said the theater was a din of iniquity and represented loose morals. The theater drove people away from lives of piety and honesty. • In 1997, the new Globe theater was rebuilt approximately 200 yards from where the original stood. You can go to plays and imagine that you are a contemporary of Shakespeare.
An Early 17th Century drawing of the Globe in the time of Shakespeare
