Overview of the Historical Context of Overview of the Historical Context of Elizabethan DramaElizabethan Drama

Dramas before the Renaissance period were confined within Dramas before the Renaissance period were confined within the church and later moved into the streets (strolling the church and later moved into the streets (strolling players).players).

These dramas focused mostly on biblical stories and staged These dramas focused mostly on biblical stories and staged on temporary/makeshift stage (plays were performed on on temporary/makeshift stage (plays were performed on carts that the players pushed around from village to village )carts that the players pushed around from village to village )

The kind of temporary stage that was dominant in England The kind of temporary stage that was dominant in England about 1575 was the booth stage of the marketplace – a small about 1575 was the booth stage of the marketplace – a small rectangular stage mounted on trestles or barrels and ‘open’ rectangular stage mounted on trestles or barrels and ‘open’ in the sense being surrounded by spectators on 3 sidesin the sense being surrounded by spectators on 3 sides

The backdrop was a cloth, usually open at the top and served The backdrop was a cloth, usually open at the top and served as the changing room for actors.as the changing room for actors.

Before the Elizabethan period, there was no paying Before the Elizabethan period, there was no paying profession of writing and there were no specially-designed profession of writing and there were no specially-designed buildings for presenting plays until the last quarter of the buildings for presenting plays until the last quarter of the sixteenth century. sixteenth century.

A little bit more about strolling A little bit more about strolling playersplayers

They were actors, tumblers, jugglers, all rolled into They were actors, tumblers, jugglers, all rolled into one: they performed plays, they walked on stilts, one: they performed plays, they walked on stilts, they juggled, they created slapstick scenes - they juggled, they created slapstick scenes - anything to please, to entertain and, of course, to anything to please, to entertain and, of course, to earn themselves not only applause but money on earn themselves not only applause but money on which to live. which to live.

At the end of their performance they called upon the At the end of their performance they called upon the audience to be generous and went round with their audience to be generous and went round with their hats collecting whatever was thrown to them. hats collecting whatever was thrown to them.

If their performance pleased the crowd they would be If their performance pleased the crowd they would be well rewarded; if they did badly they would not have well rewarded; if they did badly they would not have much for supper that night. Life was pretty hard and much for supper that night. Life was pretty hard and rewards unreliable for actors.rewards unreliable for actors.

Morality plays are likely to be performed iMorality plays are likely to be performed in this mannern this manner

Morality play on a modern stageMorality play on a modern stage

From makeshift stage to great From makeshift stage to great hallshalls

More refined performances took place in the great halls More refined performances took place in the great halls of noblemen's houses, of the Inns of Court, or of Oxford of noblemen's houses, of the Inns of Court, or of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges. and Cambridge Colleges.

In 1603 during the Great Plague, the King and his Court In 1603 during the Great Plague, the King and his Court left London to stay at Hampton Court Palace and there left London to stay at Hampton Court Palace and there Shakespeare's company performed their plays to Shakespeare's company performed their plays to entertain them. entertain them. 

The Great Halls were, again, make-shift theatres and The Great Halls were, again, make-shift theatres and the Players would act in such places by invitation. the Players would act in such places by invitation.

A screen would be erected at one end of the hall and A screen would be erected at one end of the hall and behind it there would be room for the actors to dress; behind it there would be room for the actors to dress; in front, they would perform their play. In general, in front, they would perform their play. In general, these would be more serious performances, often in these would be more serious performances, often in celebration of a special occasion.celebration of a special occasion.

Advantages and disadvantages Advantages and disadvantages of playing in the innsof playing in the inns

Players were in no way responsible for their upkeep Players were in no way responsible for their upkeep In both Inn-Yards and the Great Halls there would be a In both Inn-Yards and the Great Halls there would be a

ready-made audience ready-made audience Players always had to rely on the hospitality of inn-Players always had to rely on the hospitality of inn-

keepers or of the noblemen and others who owned the keepers or of the noblemen and others who owned the Great Houses Great Houses

They had no storage space, so they had to carry all They had no storage space, so they had to carry all their properties and costumes with them their properties and costumes with them

The City of London authorities were hostile to them. The City of London authorities were hostile to them. Then as now, London was like a magnet and the Then as now, London was like a magnet and the Players in particular, were drawn to it since the Players in particular, were drawn to it since the population was such that they could perform the same population was such that they could perform the same play a number of times and still get an audience; play a number of times and still get an audience; furthermore, there was some prestige in playing in furthermore, there was some prestige in playing in London; everybody who was anybody went to London London; everybody who was anybody went to London to make his nameto make his name

An example of a great hall in KentAn example of a great hall in Kent

A need for a proper A need for a proper playhouseplayhouse

Eventually the public appetite for drama became Eventually the public appetite for drama became huge and playhouses were erected on the south huge and playhouses were erected on the south bank of Thames, where most illegal businesses bank of Thames, where most illegal businesses operated.operated.

The London theatre scenario during the last years of The London theatre scenario during the last years of the reign of Elizabeth was an exciting place since QE the reign of Elizabeth was an exciting place since QE supported the activity.supported the activity.

Elizabethan plays are meant to be performed on a Elizabethan plays are meant to be performed on a stage where the needs and reactions of an audience stage where the needs and reactions of an audience always to be considered (entertainment sake).always to be considered (entertainment sake).

In a city of some 100,000 people, perhaps as many In a city of some 100,000 people, perhaps as many as 15 to 20,000 people attended the theatre each as 15 to 20,000 people attended the theatre each week, even though play were presented during mid-week, even though play were presented during mid-day, when practically everyone had to work.day, when practically everyone had to work.

From 1594 to 1600, 2 companies of actors From 1594 to 1600, 2 companies of actors operated in London: operated in London: a) The Chamberlain’s Men (for whom Shakespeare a) The Chamberlain’s Men (for whom Shakespeare wrote and performed)wrote and performed)b) The Admiral’s Men. b) The Admiral’s Men.

Unlike their predecessors (strolling players), actors Unlike their predecessors (strolling players), actors played in structured facilities i.e. played in structured facilities i.e. theatres/playhousestheatres/playhouses

The theatres/playhouses were similar: large, The theatres/playhouses were similar: large, octagonal buildings with 3 levels of spectators.octagonal buildings with 3 levels of spectators.

The stage was especially large (ampitheatre): a The stage was especially large (ampitheatre): a ‘thrust’ stage that projected out into an open area.‘thrust’ stage that projected out into an open area.

Cheapest seats (yard) at the front and spectators Cheapest seats (yard) at the front and spectators in this area did not sit. They only paid a penny in this area did not sit. They only paid a penny and stood (2-3 hours) throughout the and stood (2-3 hours) throughout the performance.performance.

These people are called groundlings. They These people are called groundlings. They endured the sun, rain and snow because the endured the sun, rain and snow because the playhouses were open at the top (open-air playhouses were open at the top (open-air ampitheatre)ampitheatre)

Only those who can afford to pay slightly more Only those who can afford to pay slightly more can sit under cover (in one of the 3 tiers)can sit under cover (in one of the 3 tiers)

The back of the stage for actors was called The back of the stage for actors was called ‘tiring house’ (short for ‘attiring’) ‘tiring house’ (short for ‘attiring’)

Audience were large, excited, expectant, noisy, Audience were large, excited, expectant, noisy, and demanding (unruly)and demanding (unruly)

Plays had to entertain them, whether comedy Plays had to entertain them, whether comedy or tragedy, or they became restless, or tragedy, or they became restless, disruptive, and even violent (even throw things disruptive, and even violent (even throw things on stage)on stage)

Elizabethan PlayhousesElizabethan Playhouses

It is customary to distinguish 2 It is customary to distinguish 2 major classes of permanent major classes of permanent

Elizabethan playhouse: ‘public’ Elizabethan playhouse: ‘public’ (outdoor/open-air) and ‘private’ (outdoor/open-air) and ‘private’

(indoor)(indoor)

Public (outdoor/open-air Public (outdoor/open-air playhouse)playhouse)

Large, round outdoor theatresLarge, round outdoor theatresMaximum capacity 3,000 spectatorsMaximum capacity 3,000 spectatorsWere found only in the suburbs (outside Were found only in the suburbs (outside

London)London)Majority of spectators stood in the yard Majority of spectators stood in the yard

for a penny (groundlings = lower class)for a penny (groundlings = lower class)The remainder sitting in galleries and The remainder sitting in galleries and

boxes for 2 pence or more (middle boxes for 2 pence or more (middle class)class)

Audiences were socially heterogeneous, Audiences were socially heterogeneous, mainly drawn from the lower classesmainly drawn from the lower classes

Private (indoor) playhousePrivate (indoor) playhouseSmaller, rectangular, indoor theatresSmaller, rectangular, indoor theatresMaximum capacity 700 spectatorsMaximum capacity 700 spectatorsUsed exclusively by Boy’s companiesUsed exclusively by Boy’s companiesWere found only within the city of Were found only within the city of

London London Audiences tended to be better Audiences tended to be better

educated and of higher social rank educated and of higher social rank (high class)(high class)

Plays usually catered for the eyes of the Plays usually catered for the eyes of the Queen or King in reignQueen or King in reign