William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

The Elizabethan Theater The Elizabethan Theater

Roughly circular building – designed on Roughly circular building – designed on the courtyard of an innthe courtyard of an inn

– Having galleries and windowsHaving galleries and windows– Had no roof over the central partHad no roof over the central part

No stage lighting – plays were held at No stage lighting – plays were held at 2:00 in the afternoon2:00 in the afternoon

Open-air theater – performances Open-air theater – performances depended on the weatherdepended on the weather

Performances lasted about 2 hoursPerformances lasted about 2 hours

Women did not act in the theater; Women did not act in the theater; young boys played the women’s parts.young boys played the women’s parts.

Book holders kept the scripts as each Book holders kept the scripts as each actor usually only received his own actor usually only received his own lines and not a complete script. lines and not a complete script. Bookholders would help if an actor Bookholders would help if an actor forgot his lines.forgot his lines.

OrchestraOrchestra

The orchestra played in an area above the The orchestra played in an area above the stage (3stage (3rdrd level). level).

Today they play in the pit. (orchestra pit)Today they play in the pit. (orchestra pit)

Stage Area Stage Area The stage area stuck out into the center The stage area stuck out into the center

audience area. There was a door on either audience area. There was a door on either side of the stage for exits and entrances. side of the stage for exits and entrances.

Pit AreaPit Area

The yard below the The yard below the stage was known as stage was known as the pit.the pit.

Here the poor or common people would stand to Here the poor or common people would stand to watch watch

The floor of this area would often be covered with The floor of this area would often be covered with straw. straw.

The poor were called groundlings, penny knaves, The poor were called groundlings, penny knaves, and stinkards.and stinkards.

CurtainCurtain There was a main curtain used for various There was a main curtain used for various

purposes throughout the play. purposes throughout the play.

Trap DoorTrap Door

The Trap Door was used for certain The Trap Door was used for certain entrances and exits.entrances and exits.

Fireworks were often used as actors Fireworks were often used as actors entered and exited the entered and exited the

Balcony Balcony The balcony was also used as part of the The balcony was also used as part of the

staging area. (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) staging area. (i.e. Romeo and Juliet)

Inner StageInner Stage The theater had an inner stage which was The theater had an inner stage which was

usually concealed by a curtain.usually concealed by a curtain. Certain scenes would be acted out in this Certain scenes would be acted out in this

inner stage. inner stage.

Galleries Galleries

The wealthy filled the galleries which The wealthy filled the galleries which encircled the yard. encircled the yard.

Gallery seats were just Gallery seats were just hard wooden benches hard wooden benches w/o backs.w/o backs. Royalty would occasionally Royalty would occasionally sit on the stage itself in the sit on the stage itself in the earlier days of the theater. earlier days of the theater.

AudienceAudience Audience interaction and participation was Audience interaction and participation was

expected. Some parts of the scenes were expected. Some parts of the scenes were even acted out in the audience. even acted out in the audience.

THE ENDTHE END