Elizabethan theater: Shakespeare and The Globe

Summary

This video offers an insightful look into Elizabethan Theatre, focusing on the life and works of William Shakespeare. It delves into the cultural and social context of the time, explaining how theatres like the Globe were set up in Southwark, a district outside London's strict laws. The script highlights the unique aspects of Shakespearean plays, including scene-painting, audience interaction, and the absence of women on stage, with adolescent boys playing female roles. Despite its crude reputation, Shakespeare's legacy as one of the greatest writers is celebrated for the depth, excitement, and universality of his works.

Takeaways

• 😀 Elizabethan Theatre is closely associated with William Shakespeare and his time, especially during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
• 😀 Theatres in London were illegal during much of Shakespeare's career due to both religious opposition from Puritans and the fear of the bubonic plague.
• 😀 Southwark, located across the River Thames from London, became a hub for illicit activities, including taverns, gambling, and animal cruelty.
• 😀 The Globe Theatre, Shakespeare's famous theatre, was an open-air, round structure with a thatched roof and a stage featuring special effects like trapdoors and ropes for flying actors.
• 😀 Productions at the Globe Theatre were limited to daylight hours due to the lack of artificial lighting.
• 😀 Instead of elaborate painted sets, Shakespeare used 'scene-painting' through dialogue to set the stage, describing settings such as dawn or specific locations.
• 😀 Plays at the time featured live action, including sword fights, music, sound effects, and stage blood to engage audiences.
• 😀 To advertise the plays, a colored flag was raised: white for comedies, red for history plays, and black for tragedies.
• 😀 The audience was divided by social class: upper and middle-class members paid more for seating, while poorer individuals (called groundlings) stood in front of the stage for a lower price.
• 😀 Female roles in Shakespeare's plays were performed by adolescent boys, as it was illegal for women to act on stage during that time.
• 😀 Shakespeare's plays, despite their sometimes formal language, are widely considered exciting, humorous, suspenseful, and still enjoyable today.

Q & A

What is Elizabethan Theatre, and why is it named that way?

Elizabethan Theatre refers to the theatre of William Shakespeare's time, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is named after her because she was the monarch during the early part of Shakespeare's career.

Why was Southwark significant in Elizabethan Theatre?

Southwark was significant because it was outside the legal boundaries of the City of London, meaning it wasn't subject to London's laws. This allowed for activities such as theatre to thrive in an area that was considered more morally permissive and less regulated.

What were some of the activities that occurred in Southwark that were banned in London?

Southwark was home to taverns, gambling, prostitution, pickpockets, animal cruelty, such as cockfighting and bear-baiting, and other criminal activities, all of which were either illegal or frowned upon in London.

Why were theatres closed in London in 1596, and what impact did this have on Shakespeare?

Theatres in London were closed in 1596 due to the influence of the Puritans, who deemed theatre immoral, and the fear of the bubonic plague, as large gatherings could spread the disease. Shakespeare's company had to dismantle and rebuild their theatre, The Globe, in Southwark as a result.

What was The Globe theatre like, and how was it designed?

The Globe theatre was a round, open-air building with a thatched roof. It had an elevated stage with a balcony and used minimal set design, relying on descriptive dialogue in the script. It also had features like trapdoors, cannons for battle scenes, and an area for flying effects.

How were plays staged in Elizabethan theatres without modern technology?

Without artificial lighting, all performances took place in the afternoon. They also used techniques like descriptive language in the script for scene-setting, and special effects such as trapdoors, ropes for flying actors, and live music.

What was the role of flags in Elizabethan theatres?

Flags were raised outside the theatre to indicate the type of play being performed. A white flag signified a comedy, a red flag indicated a history play, and a black flag meant a tragedy.

What were 'groundlings' in the context of Elizabethan theatre?

Groundlings were the poorer audience members who paid a penny to stand in front of the stage, exposed to the weather. They were known for their lively reactions, such as cheering heroes and booing villains, and sometimes throwing things at actors.

Why were female roles performed by boys in Elizabethan theatre?

Women were not allowed to perform on stage in Elizabethan theatre due to societal norms that deemed it inappropriate. As a result, adolescent boys played female roles, often wearing platform shoes, wigs, and makeup to appear more feminine.

How did Shakespeare keep his audience engaged during his plays?

Shakespeare kept his audience engaged by breaking up long sections of dialogue with sword fights, comedic characters, and sometimes risqué jokes. The lively atmosphere helped keep the audience interested, particularly the groundlings.