myShakespeare | Elizabethan Theater

Summary

The script transports viewers to 1600 London, detailing the rise of Elizabethan theatre with Shakespeare's Lord Chamberlain's Men and the Globe. It explores the birth of modern English theatre from public inns to purpose-built venues like Burbage's The Theater. Discussing societal views, from opposition by officials and Puritans to the capitalist boom in playwriting, the script highlights theatre's impact on culture, identity, and the human condition, reflected in plays that blend comedy, history, and tragedy.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The Elizabethan theatre, particularly during Shakespeare's time, was a significant cultural and economic phenomenon, with the Globe Theatre being a prime example of its success.
• 🚀 Shakespeare, along with eight other actors, founded the Lord Chamberlains' Men, which became the most successful acting company in London.
• 🏟️ Prior to the establishment of purpose-built theatres, plays were performed in public inns like the Boar's Head Inn, where actors were compensated by innkeepers for boosting alcohol sales.
• 👷‍♂️ James Burbage, often referred to as the father of English theatre, was inspired by Roman theatres and the business model of bear baiting arenas to build The Theater, which could accommodate around 2000 spectators.
• 🏛️ The design of Elizabethan theatres like the Globe featured an open-air, semicircular structure with tiered galleries for seating and a stage area where spectators could stand for a penny.
• 💵 The theatre industry was a burgeoning part of the British economy, representing the rise of capitalism and free enterprise, with acting companies like the Lord Chamberlain's Men being successful businesses.
• 🎩 Actors in Elizabethan theatres were often shareholding members of a company, sharing in the profits after fixed expenses and a percentage to the theatre owners, which could be quite lucrative.
• 📚 The demand for new plays was high, leading to the emergence of professional playwrights, including the University Wits and other writers, who were often well-educated and could make a living from their craft.
• 📈 The theatre industry's success relied on frequent rotations of plays to attract repeat customers, with companies like the Lord Chamberlain's Men performing up to 30 different plays in a year.
• 🤔 The Elizabethan theatre was a subject of debate, with some viewing it as a renaissance of literary expression and others, like the Puritans, seeing it as idle and immoral entertainment.
• 🌟 Shakespeare's works, particularly his tragedies, comedies, and histories, had a profound impact on society, reflecting and shaping the English national identity and the evolving sense of self in an increasingly complex world.

Q & A

What was the Elizabethan theatre like during Shakespeare's time?

The Elizabethan theatre during Shakespeare's time was characterized by open-air, semi-circular structures like the Globe, which was the home of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Performances were held during daylight hours due to the lack of artificial lighting, and the audience could stand in the yard for a penny or pay an additional penny to sit in the galleries.

How did James Burbage contribute to the development of English theatre?

James Burbage, a carpenter by trade, is often referred to as the father of English theatre. He designed and built The Theatre, an open-air structure specifically for play performances, which could accommodate an audience of around 2000. This innovation led to the birth of the modern English theatre.

What was the social and economic context of theatre in 16th century England?

In 16th century England, theatre was a burgeoning industry that faced opposition from London officials and Puritans due to concerns about crime, public health, and moral issues. Despite these challenges, theatres like the Globe thrived, becoming a significant part of the economy and reflecting the emerging capitalist and free enterprise system.

Why were plays performed in the daytime during the Elizabethan era?

Plays were performed in the daytime because it was not practical to artificially illuminate the large space of the theatres. Most of the roof was left open, and performances were scheduled during daylight hours to avoid the need for artificial lighting.

How did the Lord Chamberlain's Men become successful enough to construct their own theatre?

The Lord Chamberlain's Men became successful by attracting large audiences and becoming the only acting company at the time that was able to construct their own theatre, the Globe. This allowed them to keep all the profits without having to share with a theatre landlord.

What was the role of a 'sharer' in an Elizabethan acting company?

A 'sharer' in an Elizabethan acting company was a shareholding member who was an equal business partner. After paying a fixed percentage of the box office to the theatre owners and covering fixed expenses, any remaining profits were split among the sharers.

Why did Elizabethan theatres rotate plays frequently?

Elizabethan theatres rotated plays frequently to attract repeat customers. With a smaller potential audience compared to modern cities, theatres needed to offer a large selection of plays to entice people to return and see different performances.

How did the demand for new plays affect the profession of playwrights during the Elizabethan era?

The demand for new plays was so high that it led to the emergence of the first professional writers who could make a living solely from their writing. This demand also led to an increase in the number of plays being produced, with some writers resorting to an assembly line production process to meet deadlines.

What was the significance of the University Wits in the early professional theatre?

The University Wits were a group of playwrights who were graduates of Oxford or Cambridge. They contributed to the early professional theatre by writing plays, often in a grand, literary style. However, they were also known for their snobbish attitude towards actors and their disdain for those who came from less privileged backgrounds.

How did the Elizabethan theatre reflect societal changes of the time?

The Elizabethan theatre reflected societal changes by presenting plays that commented on the silliness and vanities of society, instructed on the country's past, and helped create a sense of English national identity. It also caused audiences to reflect on their internal struggles and external dilemmas in an increasingly complex world, and it highlighted the evolving sense of self and societal roles.