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The Elizabethan EraThe Elizabethan Era

House of Tudor (1485-1603)House of Tudor (1485-1603) It was an extravagant and brutal ageIt was an extravagant and brutal ageThe first theaters in England The first theaters in England

appearedappearedWilliam Shakespeare plays a big roleWilliam Shakespeare plays a big role

Sport or pastimesSport or pastimes

Of upper class and aristocracy :Of upper class and aristocracy :TennisTennisHuntingHuntingBear-gardensBear-gardens

Sport was controlled by the Sport was controlled by the govermentgoverment

Development of theatresDevelopment of theatres

By nowBy nowUsed in church to provide bible storiesUsed in church to provide bible storiesTo teach moral valuesTo teach moral values

Time of the Tudors:Time of the Tudors:Break of work Break of work Piece of entertainmentPiece of entertainment

Plawrithing and acting becomes a Plawrithing and acting becomes a serious businessserious business

PlayhousesPlayhouses Private – small, Private – small,

roofed buildings roofed buildings for the wealthy for the wealthy people, people,

Public – usually Public – usually the backyards of the backyards of inns, designed inns, designed as bear-gardens, as bear-gardens, no roofsno roofs

Famous theaters Famous theaters – the Rose, the – the Rose, the Swan, the Globe, Swan, the Globe, and the Fortuneand the Fortune

Structure

Public theaters were either a round, square wooden structure which consisted of:

• unroofed courtyard• roofed galleries• platform stage• tiring-house• curtained discovery space• hut• trapdoor

SeatingSeating

Determined by the wealth and the Determined by the wealth and the social status of the people.social status of the people.

The wealthiest people took the best The wealthiest people took the best seatsseats

Acting CompaniesActing Companies

Before the theaters were built Before the theaters were built performances were put on by performances were put on by traveling troupes traveling troupes

They had the reputation of being They had the reputation of being vagabondsvagabonds

Many people gathered and Many people gathered and sometimes behaved disorderlysometimes behaved disorderly

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater

Built in 1599 by Built in 1599 by Cuthbert BurbageCuthbert Burbage

Shakespeare put Shakespeare put on most of his on most of his plays in there and plays in there and acted in some of acted in some of themthem

In 1642 the theater In 1642 the theater was completely was completely destroyeddestroyed