1 / 19

The Vibrant World of Elizabethan Theater

Explore the rich history and captivating performances of theater during Shakespeare's time in Elizabethan England. Learn about important figures, iconic theaters, play staging, acting companies, and more. Discover the colorful costumes, lively audiences, and the enduring legacy of Shakespeare's acting company.

mshilling
Download Presentation

The Vibrant World of Elizabethan Theater

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Theater During Shakespeare’s Time

  2. Elizabethan Theater • Called this to honor the queen, Queen Elizabeth I • She loved art, music, drama, and poetry • She liked Shakespeare’s plays and protected him

  3. Important People to the Theater • The “Master of Revels” was the official censor of plays • He approved or censored content • A patron sponsored an acting company • A patron is a rich citizen of high rank who backed an acting company

  4. James I • Became king in 1603 • Was a supporter of drama • James became the patron of Shakespeare’s acting company • They changed their company name from Lord Chamberlain’s Men to the King’s Men

  5. The Theater • London’s first theater • Built in 1576 • Owned by James Burbage • The first theater derived its shape from the inns • Torn down in 1599

  6. The Globe Theater • Built in 1599 • In Southwark (near London) • Was financed by James Burbage’s sons • Construced out of the timber from The Theater

  7. The Globe • Called the “wooden O” • Resembled a small football stadium • Unroofed yard in the center

  8. Parts of the Globe Yard (where groundlings stood) Permanent Door (stage entrance and exit) Platform (main acting area)

  9. Parts of the Globe Chamber (upper stage) Galleries (3 tiers of seats for audience members) Terras (balcony) Trap Door (lead to an area beneath the stage known as Hell) Study (inner stage)

  10. Parts of the Globe Flag Canopy (represented the sky) Huts (represented the Heavens) Musician’s Gallery

  11. The Globe • Peasants who paid a penny and stood in the yard to watch a performance were called groundlings • Wealthier spectators could spend 2-3 pennies to sit in the galleries • Seating/standing capacity of 3000

  12. Performances • Held in the afternoon (2:00) because there was no artificial lighting • Without microphones, actors would often have to shout lines • A flag would be hoisted on the day of a performance • The start of a play was signaled by a trumpet sounding 3 times

  13. Staging and Scenery • Most plays lasted two hours • There was little interruption because scenery wasn’t used • The audience gained an understanding of the play from the costumes, props, music, sound effects, and dialogue • Setting was established with words

  14. Costumes • Were colorful and expensive • Usually donated by rich patrons

  15. Costumes • Would establish a character’s status (wealthy, poor, soldier, king, etc.) • Was symbolic of a character’s morality • White = purity • Black = evil • Red = violence, blood

  16. Acting Companies • Consisted of 25-30 actors • Female roles played by boys • Each company had a clown for comic relief • Plays were written with actors and their abilities in mind

  17. Shakespeare’s Acting Company • Richard Burbage (a great tragic actor in Shakespeare’s company) • Will Kempe (a famous comedian in Shakepeare’s company) Richard Burbage Shakespeare

  18. The Life of the Globe • Burned down in 1613 when a cannon shot caught the roof on fire • Rebuilt in 1614 • Closed in 1642 by the Puritans (thought the theater was sinful) • Torn down in 1644

  19. The New Globe Theater • A replica of The Globe now stands on the original site • It was a 45 million dollar reconstruction • Opened in 1997

More Related