Shakespeare’s time(last part of the 16th and the early 17th century).

Shakespeare’s London

The Globe Theatre

What did the City fathers think of theatres?

Authorities thought theatre had a bad influence on people because:

They encouraged working people to idleness and taking time off from their work.

They kept them from going to church.

They influenced immoral behaviour, particularly women!

Since people gathered together in a small space, the plague could easily spread.

What did Queen Elilzabeth think of theatres?

Queen Elizabeth, on the other hand, loved watching plays and helped the theatre become popular.

As time went on more and more popular theatres emerged outside city walls. This was considered an unsafe area with crime and prostitution.

What happened in areas around theatres?

1. Theatres were open arenas that had room for up to three thousand people.

How was the structure of theatres?

2. They were structures made mainly of wood.

3.There was no heating and actors got wet when it rained.

4. The stage was higher and there was an open pit in front of it where most of the people could stand in.

5. The performances took place in the afternoon because it was too dark at night.

Who was the audience in London theatres?

The theatre in Shakespeare’s time was much different than it is today.

Authors wrote plays for the masses, especially those who couldn’t read or write. But every level of society went to the plays.

Where did the audience sit? How did it cost?

The Nobles - Upper Class Nobles would have paid for the better seats in the Lord's rooms paying 5 pennies for the privilege. They sat in the covered galleries.A cushion to make watching the play more comfortable cost a further penny.

The Lower Classes, the Commoners, were called “the Groundlings” or “Stinkards”, and would have stood in the theatre pit and paid 1 penny entrance fee.

Shakespeare’s theatre was full of life. People did not sit all the time and it was not quiet

during the performance. The audience could walk around, eat and drink

during the play. They cheered, booed and sometimes even threw objects at the actors.

During the performance…

How was the scenery?

There was almost no scenery because the dialogue was the most important part of the play.

How were the actors’ costumes?

Colourful and well-designed costumes were very important and told the people about the status of a character.

What about women in plays?

Women never performed in plays (because it was immoral) so young boys played female characters.

Women could attend the theatre although this was not formally approved.