Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes
Summary
TLDRThe Elizabethan era (1558-1603) was a golden age for theatre, with Queen Elizabeth I actively supporting the arts. Plays evolved from religious themes to comedies and tragedies, reflecting English nationalism. Renowned playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe emerged, creating enduring works. Purpose-built theatres, such as the Globe, became central to culture, attracting large audiences and elevating actors' status. The period's theatre was characterized by minimal sets, vivid performances, and a raucous audience, all contributing to a unique and vibrant theatrical experience.
Takeaways
- 👑 The Elizabethan era (1558-1603) was marked by Queen Elizabeth I's reign and a significant boom in the arts, particularly in performance arts, which contributed greatly to English and world culture.
- 🎭 Elizabeth I was an admirer of plays and spectacles, using theatre as a medium to project her own glory and that of the Tudor family.
- 🎨 The beginning of the 16th century saw plays often based on religious themes, such as morality and miracle plays, evolving from ancient Greek traditions and other forms of public entertainment.
- 🚫 Initially, plays by strolling players were viewed with suspicion by authorities due to their non-religious content, leading to attempts to ban them.
- 📜 The English Reformation influenced a shift in play themes during Elizabeth's reign, with playwrights like Marlowe and Shakespeare emerging and writing famous comedies and tragedies.
- 🎭👥 The reputation of Elizabethan actors improved with the introduction of purpose-built theaters, elevating them to the status of today's superstars and allowing them to become wealthy stakeholders.
- 🏟️ The construction of theaters like the Rose, Swan, and Globe in London between 1587 and 1598 signified the growing popularity of stage plays and the professionalization of acting troupes.
- 🌐 The Globe Theatre, opened in 1599, was notable for its circular design, capacity for around two thousand spectators, and innovative stage effects like trapdoors and flying actors.
- 🎭👗 All actors during the Elizabethan period were men, even playing female roles, reflecting the professionalization of a previously stigmatized occupation.
- 🎓 The 'University Wits', young playwrights from Cambridge and Oxford, contributed to the development of new play conventions and the popularity of blood plays.
- 🏴 The flowering of Elizabethan drama is believed to be connected to a surge in patriotic confidence and national identity following England's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Q & A
What is the Elizabethan era known for in terms of arts and culture?
-The Elizabethan era, from 1558 to 1603, is known for a boom in the arts, particularly in performance arts, which made a significant and lasting contribution to English and world culture.
How did Queen Elizabeth I use theatre to her advantage?
-Queen Elizabeth I used theatre as a medium to project her own glory and that of her family, the Tudors. She actively sponsored artists and playwrights, and theatre helped her manage her image as the Virgin Queen.
What were the origins of plays in the early 16th century in England?
-In the early 16th century, many plays were based on religious themes, known as morality plays and miracle plays. There were also masques, where performers sang, danced, and recited poetry in extravagant costumes.
How did the themes of plays change during Elizabeth's reign?
-The themes of plays changed during Elizabeth's reign due to the English Reformation, leading to the creation of comedies and tragedies by English playwrights, exploring historical topics and a sense of English nationalism.
Who were some of the famous playwrights of the Elizabethan era?
-Famous playwrights of the Elizabethan era include Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, and William Shakespeare, who wrote plays that are still renowned today.
What was the reputation of early Elizabethan actors like?
-The reputation of early Elizabethan actors was not good; they were viewed as rogues and vagabonds and were treated with suspicion. However, their standing improved with the introduction of purpose-built theaters.
How did the establishment of theaters impact the financial stability of actors?
-The establishment of theaters allowed actors to form a more solid financial base, enabling them to produce more plays and achieve a higher production value. This led to actors becoming stakeholders in the theaters and becoming wealthy.
What was the Globe Theatre's significance in the Elizabethan era?
-The Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599, was significant as it was owned by Burbage's sons and members of the Chamberlain's Men acting company, including William Shakespeare. It became a hub for high-quality productions and a symbol of the era's theatrical success.
What were some of the technical features of the Globe Theatre?
-The Globe Theatre was made of wood, more or less circular, and open to the skies. It had three tiers of seating for around two thousand people, and the stage featured technical tricks such as lowering actors on wires or using trapdoors for surprise appearances.
How did the audience interact with the performances at Elizabethan theatres?
-The audience at Elizabethan theatres was notoriously raucous, with people talking back to the actors as if they were real people. The groundlings, who stood in front of the stage, were known for their lively participation in the performance.
What role did patriotism play in the flourishing of Elizabethan drama?
-Patriotism played a significant role in the flourishing of Elizabethan drama, as a surge of national identity and confidence emerged after England's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588, which coincided with the rise of playwrights like Shakespeare.
Outlines
🎭 The Elizabethan Era and the Flourishing of Theatre
The Elizabethan era, spanning from 1558 to 1603, marked a significant period of growth in the arts, especially in performance arts, under Queen Elizabeth I's reign. The queen, an admirer of performances, used theatre as a medium to project her image and that of the Tudor family. Initially, plays were based on religious themes, such as morality and miracle plays, but themes evolved due to the English Reformation, leading to the creation of comedies and tragedies. Playwrights like Marlowe, Johnson, and Shakespeare gained fame, exploring historical topics and contributing to a surge of English nationalism. The reputation of actors improved with the construction of purpose-built theatres, and they became influential figures, even mixing with royalty.
🏟️ The Evolution of Playhouses and Theatre Companies
As theatre gained popularity, dedicated playhouses like the Rose, Swan, and Globe were constructed in London between 1587 and 1598. The Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599, was partly owned by Shakespeare and other members of the Chamberlain's Men, who shared profits from the theatre. The establishment of theatres allowed actors to form a solid financial base, leading to higher production values. Theatre companies could consist of over a dozen main actors, bit part players, musicians, writers, and other staff. The Globe Theatre, made of wood and open to the skies, had a capacity of around two thousand spectators and was equipped with technical features like wires and trapdoors for dramatic effects. However, the theatre scene was occasionally halted by events like the plague, which darkened the theatres from June 1592 to April 1594.
🎨 The Cultural Impact of Elizabethan Theatre and Playwrights
The bustling environment around the theatres created a vibrant atmosphere with stores and refreshments. Playwrights, including Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, crafted plays that have left an indelible mark on world literature. Marlowe, in particular, introduced new conventions in drama with his powerful characters and innovative use of blank verse. Other playwrights like Peele and Lyly wrote comedies and fantasies that were performed at court, offering protection from Puritan opposition to theatre. The success of Elizabethan drama is believed to be linked to the surge of patriotic confidence following England's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. However, the golden age of Elizabethan theatre began to fade after Shakespeare's retirement and death, marking the end of an era rich in cultural and dramatic achievements.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Elizabethan Theater
💡Elizabeth I
💡Morality Plays
💡Miracle Plays
💡Strolling Players
💡English Reformation
💡Globe Theatre
💡Chamberlain's Men
💡University Wits
💡Puritans
💡Nationalism
Highlights
The Elizabethan era (1558-1603) saw a boom in the arts, especially in performance arts, which contributed significantly to English and world culture.
Queen Elizabeth I was an admirer of plays and spectacles, using theatre to project her own glory and that of the Tudors.
Plays at the beginning of the 16th century were often based on religious themes, such as morality and miracle plays.
The English Reformation led to a shift in play themes, with playwrights exploring comedies and tragedies.
Playwrights like Marlowe, Johnson, and Shakespeare became famous for their plays by the end of Elizabeth's reign.
Historical topics were popular among playwrights, reflecting a growing sense of English nationalism.
Early Elizabethan actors had a poor reputation, viewed as rogues and vagabonds, and were treated with suspicion.
The introduction of purpose-built theaters improved the standing of actors, who became the equivalent of today's superstars.
Major Elizabethan actors became stakeholders in theaters, gaining wealth and mingling with nobility.
All actors were men, and they also played female parts in the Elizabethan period.
The first professional troupe of actors, Leicester's Men, was sponsored by the queen and nobles in 1574.
The popularity of stage plays led to the construction of the Rose, Swan, and Globe theaters in London between 1587 and 1598.
The Globe Theatre, opened in 1599, was owned by Burbage's sons and members of Chamberlain's Men, including Shakespeare.
The Globe Theatre was a wooden, circular structure with a capacity of around two thousand spectators.
The plague caused theaters to close from June 1592 to April 1594, halting play performances.
The Theatre in Shoreditch, built in 1576 by James Burbage, was the first successful English theater in London.
The term 'University Wits' referred to young playwrights from Cambridge and Oxford who supported the theatre.
The Curtain theater was built as an overflow theater, also known as an 'easer', to accommodate larger audiences.
Puritan opposition to the stage led to the establishment of theaters outside London city limits on the south side of the Thames.
The main features of an Elizabethan theatre included an open design, minimal scenery, and a raucous audience.
Shakespeare's plays cast a shadow over other plays of the era and possibly all subsequent plays.
Christopher Marlowe was a significant playwright whose influence might have rivaled Shakespeare's had he not been murdered at 29.
Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones wrote comedies and fantasies that were performed at court, protected from Puritan wrath.
The flowering of Elizabethan drama was partly due to a surge of patriotic confidence after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The robustness of Elizabethan drama began to fade after Shakespeare's retirement in 1612 and his death in 1616.
Transcripts
[Music]
elizabethan theater
in 13 minutes
the elizabethan era 1558-1603
is the period when elizabeth the first
sat on the throne of england
the age saw a boom in the arts in
general but it was the performance arts
that perhaps
made the most lasting contribution to
english
and even world culture the queen was
herself an admirer of planes
performances
and spectacles which were frequently
held in her royal residences
elizabeth carefully managed her image as
the virgin queen
who had sacrificed her personal life to
better concentrate
on the good of her people theatre was
therefore
just one of the media she used to
project her own glory
and that of her family the tudors
the queen actively sponsored artists and
playwrights
the origins at the beginning of the 16th
century
many plays were based upon religious
themes these were called
morality plays and showed good and bad
conduct
others called miracle plays showed
scenes from the bible
plays date back to the ancient greeks of
the 6th century bc
there were also mars a type of mind
where mars performed sang
dance and recited poetry were in
extravagant costumes
and stood before painted scenery finally
towns across england had long funded
public shows
which involved musicians acrobats and
jesters
and these continued even as theater
became popular
the main exception to these were the
plays put on by wandering groups of
actors
known as strolling players the plays put
on by these groups were often far from
religious
and the authorities tried to ban them
the themes of plays changed during
elizabeth's reign due mainly to the
english reformation
and english playwrights began to write
comedies and tragedies
by the end of her reign playwrights such
as marlow johnson and shakespeare
were writing the play to which they are
now famous
the move away from religious topics had
led writers to explore other things
and their imaginations knew no bounds
historical topics were especially
popular with the new playwrights
and a period when a sense of english
nationalism was developing
as never before the actors
the reputation of the early elizabethan
actors was not good
many were viewed as rogues and vagabonds
actors
were not trusted travelling elizabethan
actors were considered such a threat
that the regulations were imposed and
licenses were granted
to the aristocracy for the maintenance
of troops of players
actors would be asked for these
credentials they were treated with
suspicion
indeed they made perfect spies
the standing of elizabethan actors
improved with the purpose-built theaters
were introduced
a play could attract as many as 3 000
people to the theater
and the elizabethan actors were the
equivalent of today's superstars
many of the major elizabethan actors
became stakeholders in the theaters
and became wealthy men they mixed with
an ability
and played before royalty some of the
famous
actors of the time were edward allen
richard burbidge john hemmings
william rowley robert armin
henry condell william kemp
william shakespeare christopher beaston
nathan field john lowen
and joseph taylor the company of men
all actors were of course men who played
the female parts too
the elizabethan period saw these public
performers become a professional body
of entertainers the first professional
troupe of actors was sponsored by the
queen
nobles and anyone else who had the money
for such entertainments
such as lord robert dudley they were
called leicester's men
and they gained their license in 1574
and two of the country's stately homes
from 1574 all troops had to be licensed
[Music]
the playhouses as the watching of
players become more popular
theaters were built instead of using the
courtyards of inns
the popularity of stage plays led to the
building
of the rose swan and globe theaters
in london between 1587 and 1598.
the globe theatre opened for business in
1599
and was owned by burbridge's sons and
some members of the professional acting
company known
as chamberlain's men one of these
investors was william shakespeare
and he and other actors and playwrights
shared half of the profits from the
theatre while the other half
went to pay secondary actors musicians
costumes
and maintenance costs
crucially the establishment of theaters
meant that previously traveling actors
could now form a more solid financial
base
which allowed them to produce more plays
and give them a much higher production
value
theater companies could boast 12 or more
permanent main actors
and a number of bit part players boys
and apprentice
also on the staff were musicians writers
artists
and copyists the globe theater was made
of wood more
or less circular in form and open to the
skies in the center
rising to a height of 40 foot and
measuring 80 foot across
inside were three tiers of seating
providing a capacity of around two
thousand
the theater got its name from the globe
on its roof
which carried the legend in latin of
shakespeare's famous line
all the world's stage
the globe's stage was rectangular
measuring some 12 meters in length
and was protected by a thatched roof
around 12 actors could perform the stage
at any one time
behind the stage was a gallery which
could see more viewers or be used in an
important part of the play
e.g juliet's balcony and romeo and
juliet
the audience could be surprised by such
technical tricks as lowering actors on
wires or having them appear
or disappear through a trapdoor in the
stage floor
the only thing that stopped the plays
was the plague
and the theaters were dark from june
1592
to april 1594
[Music]
in 1576 james burbidge an actor and
theater builder
built the first successful english
theater in london on land here at least
in shoreditch it was simply called the
theatre
and were supported by young playwrights
from cambridge and oxford universities
these young men became known as the
university wits
and included thomas kidd robert greene
john lilly
thomas nash and john peel the play the
spanish tragedy
written by kid was the template for the
gory tragedy of blood
plays that became wildly popular
another theater called the curtain had
to be built to accommodate the overflow
audiences the technical name for these
overflow theaters
was an easer
the puritan reaction against the stage
was such that the players had to set up
theaters
outside the london city limits on the
south side of the thames
but attentive plays remained popular
amongst normal puritans
the most famous of these theaters which
became the lord chamberlain's men's home
was the globe theatre
[Music]
the main features of an elizabethan
theatre
the theatre was open and plays had to be
formed in daylight
a flag would flow from the top of the
theater to show a play was going to be
performed
people sat around the stage in galleries
the cheapest place was in front of the
stage where all three people stood
they were known as groundlings there was
very little scenery
a character would tell the audience
where the scene was set
women's parts were played by boys
long speeches gave actors a chance to
change their clothes
there was generally plenty of violence
in the planes tudor audiences
loved it
the audience elizabeth theater itself
was notoriously raucous
people most of whom stood throughout the
play
talked back to the actors as if they
were real people
hints of this can be discerned even in
shakespeare's plays
because of sumtry laws restricting what
a person could wear
according to their class actors were
licensed to wear clothing
above their station the design of the
theater was possibly adapted from the
in-yards that had served as plain spaces
for actors
and or bear baiting pits
the wooden building had three galleries
that surrounded
an open yard in shakespeare's henry v
the chorus speech describes the theater
as this wooden o
days out at the globe theatre would have
been an exciting event
the ground surrounded the theater would
have been bustling with people
there have been stores selling
merchandise and refreshments
creating a market day atmosphere
the playwrights more and more theaters
grew up around london
and eventually attracted shakespeare who
wrote some of the greatest plays in
world literature
his plays continued to cast a shadow
over all other plays of the era
and quite possibly all other plays that
came after
but shakespeare was not the only great
playwright of the elizabethan age
there was christopher marlowe many
scholars believe that marlowe might have
rivaled shakespeare
had not been murdered when he was 29
years old
in a fight over a tavern bill in 1593
he was the first to change the
conventions of the early elizabethan
plays
with his towers of overreachers like the
title character of
timberlane the great dr faustus
and barabas in the jew of mortar
men whose will to power provide the
engines for the plays
marlowe used blank or ond rhyme diverse
in a new dynamic way
that changed the very psychology of
drama
in the meantime pill and lily were
writing like comedies
and fantasies such as endemion
these plays performed at court which are
not only patrons
but protected the companies from the
wrath of the puritans
who found theatre sinful one of the
companies who performed at the court
the lord chambers ben had shakespeare as
a member
[Music]
patriotism historians believe that the
flowering of elizabeth and drama was due
in part to the burst of patriotic
confidence
and national identity that erupted after
england's victory
of the spanish armada in 1588.
this was a fleet of ships assembled by
philip ii of spain
to conquer england the conquest fouled
it might not be a coincidence that
shakespeare began to contribute in
earnest
to elizabethan drama around 1588
when he was 24 though he arrived in
london from his home in
stratford-upon-avon
around 1585 to seek work as an actor
by 1600 three years before elizabeth
died
the robustness of elizabeth and drama
began to fade
after shakespeare's retirement in 1612
and his death in 1616 elizabethan drama
was no more
[Music]
elizabethan theater in 30 minutes
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