Shakespeare 101. The Elizabethan Stage Basic Information Theater Basic Information Theater Physical...

Shakespeare Shakespeare 101101

The Elizabethan The Elizabethan StageStage

Basic Information TheaterBasic Information TheaterPhysical Aspects of GlobePhysical Aspects of Globe

The Sets and EffectsThe Sets and EffectsThe ActorsThe Actors

Audience InformationAudience Information

Basic InformationBasic InformationPlays were performed wherever Plays were performed wherever

they could find space, usually in they could find space, usually in court yardscourt yards

First permanent theater was bulit First permanent theater was bulit in 1576 outside of London by in 1576 outside of London by James Burbage, named “James Burbage, named “The The TheaterTheater””

1599 rent was raised on the land 1599 rent was raised on the land on which the “the Theater’ was on which the “the Theater’ was built …because of increase built …because of increase Burbage’s son dismantled the Burbage’s son dismantled the theater and rowed it across the theater and rowed it across the riverriver

Later the reconstructed theater Later the reconstructed theater was named was named THE GLOBETHE GLOBE

Elizabethan Courtyard of Elizabethan Courtyard of InnInn

Physical Aspects of the Physical Aspects of the GlobeGlobe

described as described as “the Wooden O”“the Wooden O”open space - 65’ in diameteropen space - 65’ in diametersurrounded by a circular surrounded by a circular

building..30’ high with 3 tiers of building..30’ high with 3 tiers of seatsseats

stage 5’ high, 40’X30’ rectanglestage 5’ high, 40’X30’ rectanglesmall curtained inner stage located small curtained inner stage located

at the back of the large stage- at the back of the large stage-

“ “The Heavens”The Heavens” front part of the stage equipped front part of the stage equipped

with a trap doorwith a trap door

The GlobeThe Globe

New Globe Theater StageNew Globe Theater Stage

The Sets and EffectsThe Sets and Effectsstage bare however flags, stage bare however flags,

banners, and musicians usedbanners, and musicians usedactors lowered from heavens by actors lowered from heavens by

cranescranessound effects (a cannon) - sound effects (a cannon) - a a

spark of a cannon was the cause spark of a cannon was the cause of the fire that destroyed The of the fire that destroyed The GlobeGlobe

torches were used to depict torches were used to depict nightnight

The Elizabethan The Elizabethan ActorActor

FencingFencing: Audience loved duels!!!: Audience loved duels!!!TumblingTumbling: Lots of movement!!!: Lots of movement!!!DancingDancing: Most plays ended with : Most plays ended with

dancing!!!dancing!!!ElocutionElocution: Words were very : Words were very

important!!!important!!!ActingActing: Doubled in many roles, : Doubled in many roles,

females roles easily played by young females roles easily played by young boys due to the use of wigs and boys due to the use of wigs and heavy makeupheavy makeup

MusicMusic: Played throughout!!!: Played throughout!!!

The Elizabethan ActorThe Elizabethan Actorall actors were male - men all actors were male - men

played all parts both male played all parts both male and femaleand female

actors held in disreputeactors held in disreputeconsidered “rogues, considered “rogues,

vagabonds, sturdy beggars, vagabonds, sturdy beggars, & common players”& common players”

Audience Audience InformationInformation

Audience usually stood, seats were Audience usually stood, seats were for those who paidfor those who paid

Local officials were always trying Local officials were always trying to close theaters because they felt to close theaters because they felt the people wasted their time therethe people wasted their time there

1592-1594 London theaters were 1592-1594 London theaters were closed during the plague years for closed during the plague years for officials felt the disease was too officials felt the disease was too easily spread throughout the easily spread throughout the audienceaudience

Black DeathBlack Death

William Shakespeare’s Life William Shakespeare’s Life (1546-1616)(1546-1616)

Lived from 1564-Lived from 1564-1616 during the 1616 during the days of Queen days of Queen ElizabethElizabeth

World’s greatest World’s greatest and most famous and most famous poet, playwrightpoet, playwright


What was his genius?What was his genius?Had an Had an

understanding of understanding of peoplepeople

Skilled in wordsSkilled in wordsEveryone should Everyone should

know about know about Shakespeare for Shakespeare for the English the English language and the language and the theater has never theater has never been the same been the same sincesince


1564 born in April 1564 born in April 23 in Stratford-on-23 in Stratford-on-Avon, he died on Avon, he died on that date in 1616 that date in 1616 (age of 52)(age of 52)

1564 baptized 1564 baptized April 26; 1 of 8 April 26; 1 of 8 childrenchildren

1582 married Anne 1582 married Anne HathawayHathaway


1583 first child born, Susanna1583 first child born, Susanna

1585 twins born, Hamnet and Judith1585 twins born, Hamnet and Judith

1592 became a famous playwright 1592 became a famous playwright and actor – his rival was Robert and actor – his rival was Robert GreeneGreene


Was an actor for 20 years from 1585-Was an actor for 20 years from 1585-16051605

1594 Charter member of Lord 1594 Charter member of Lord Chamberlain’s men, 1603 it became Chamberlain’s men, 1603 it became known as the King’s Menknown as the King’s Men

Wrote 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book Wrote 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book length narrative poems; length narrative poems; Masterpieces : Masterpieces : HamletHamlet, , OthelloOthello, , Macbeth,Macbeth, and and King LearKing Lear


All plays were written for kings; paid All plays were written for kings; paid $40 per play; plays were popular and $40 per play; plays were popular and please audiences; characters were real please audiences; characters were real people (historical figures in many cases)people (historical figures in many cases)

Shakespeare got his ideas from other Shakespeare got his ideas from other plays and poems rather than his own plays and poems rather than his own personal experiences or current events personal experiences or current events from local materialfrom local material

His plays were published 7 years after His plays were published 7 years after his deathhis death

1623 First Folio published – “true 1623 First Folio published – “true original copies” of all of his playsoriginal copies” of all of his plays

William Shakespeare’s Life William Shakespeare’s Life Why does he appeal?Why does he appeal?

He speaks words that we wish we had said. He speaks words that we wish we had said. People are always quoting him. (examples: It People are always quoting him. (examples: It was Greek to me, in a pickle, a sorry sight, to was Greek to me, in a pickle, a sorry sight, to be or not to be, all that glitters is not gold, be or not to be, all that glitters is not gold, elbow room, the long and short of it)elbow room, the long and short of it)

He appeals to all kinds of people in all times, He appeals to all kinds of people in all times, nations, ages, and levels.nations, ages, and levels.

He is serious, funny, angry, ironical…He is serious, funny, angry, ironical…

William Shakespeare’s Life William Shakespeare’s Life Why does he appeal?Why does he appeal?

He does not make moral judgments.He does not make moral judgments.

He captures in words and actions all the He captures in words and actions all the great problems that have tormented great problems that have tormented human beings throughout the ages. We human beings throughout the ages. We take comfort in the fact that the hero has take comfort in the fact that the hero has flaws and is NOT PERFECT!flaws and is NOT PERFECT!

AND THE OLD GUY DID ALLAND THE OLD GUY DID ALLTHIS, PLAY AFTER PLAY, THIS, PLAY AFTER PLAY,

YEAR AFTER YEAR…YEAR AFTER YEAR…

Shakespeare 101. The Elizabethan Stage Basic Information Theater Basic Information Theater Physical...

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