Elizabethan theatre

Elizabethan Theatre

The Theatre

Theatre during the reign of Elizabeth I of England is often considered one of the most significant periods in the history of English theatre. This period is known as the Elizabethan Age, a time of fervent cultural and artistic activity. Theatre played a central role in this context, with the growth of a distinctive dramatic form and the emergence of important playwrights and theatre companies.

Londo's theatre

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the rose

The theatre

the curtain

by James Burbage, 1576

by Philip Henslowe, 1587

by James Burbage, 1577

Londo's theatre

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the fortune

The globe

the swan

by J. Henslowe, 1600

by Cuthbert Burbage, 1599

by Francis Langley, 1595

The architecture of teatres

- The theatres were mainly built of wood.- The architecture of the Elizabethan theatres reflected the practical and artistic needs of the time. Theatres were mainly built of wood. - The shape of Elizabethan theatres was circular or polygonal, with an open structure in the centre to allow natural light to illuminate the stage during daytime performances. In the centre was an open courtyard, called a 'yard' or 'pit,' where audiences on foot could watch performances. - Some theatres, such as the Globe Theatre, had a roof over the yard to protect the audience from the rain.

The audience

The ‘box-offices’ offered wide range of prices - A penny (=1/12 of a London worker’s weekly salary) granted entrance to the pit (standing room round the stage); - Six pence (city merchants and nobility) granted seated places in the covered galleries.

The actors

Actors during the Elizabethan age played a key role in the success of plays. Here are some important aspects concerning the actors of that period:- Women's roles: - Unlike modern theatre practice, during the Elizabethan age, women were not allowed to perform on public stages. Therefore, all female roles were played by young male actors, often known as "boy players." - The actors were organised into travelling theatre companies. Some of the most famous companies included the Lord Chamberlain's Men, William Shakespeare's company, and the Admiral's Men. - The companies often had a royal or noble patron who supported them. Actors often performed outside, in open theatres such as the Globe Theatre, or in enclosed theatres such as the Blackfriars Theatre. Costumes were an essential element of the performance. Actors wore elaborate and colourful clothes to reflect the characters they played. - Make-up was often used to emphasise facial features and make the actors more visible to members of the audience, especially in limited lighting conditions. - Theatre companies had a large repertoire of plays and often performed a variety of genres, including tragedies, comedies and historical plays. - Actors could be asked to play very different roles, so versatility was an important quality. Actors during the Elizabethan age often interacted directly with the audience, either through monologues addressed to the audience or through responses to reactions from the audience.

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