Term Paper on "Elizabethan Theatre"

Term Paper 20 pages (7289 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Elizabethan Theatre

The English theatre lived the most expressive period of its history during the forty-five-year supreme rule of Queen Elizabeth I in the second half of the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth I who was refined and had great liking for arts gave unforeseen chances for dramatic expression by shielding it from puritanical abuse that can be seen in a school of dissipation and immortality, and by legitimizing everyday concerts and allocating performance locations. Thus the Elizabethan theatre, as it is recognized now, became a model of its kind. Initially it brings together, in its repertory, an illusion and newness that are slightly identified in Europe. The public to a certain extent prefer the irreligious theatre to the religious, and the stylish subjects are ethical tales or stories of old England. In addition, the simple delineation between the theatre and the Church doesn't curb itself to the repertories, as the texts, decors and outfits are controlled by the corporations named 'Guilds' and not by religious establishment as was the case in other countries and in specific in the likewise renowned Spanish theatre. (the Elizabethan theatre. / the Elizabethan theatre)

We shall value as to how the significance of Elizabethan theatre developed. A collection of wandering players traveled around the country conducting plays in Tudor England. They acted these plays in the patio of inns and in barns. The story of Robin Hood was the most admired topic of these plays. The wandering players were not given consent by the English government, as it was upset that plays on subjects like Robin Hood would make the people to become mutinous. Trepidation was that wandering players were liable for transmitting diseases like the plague. A law was passed in 1572 prohibiting the wandering players from traveling around the country. Only the actors who were engaged by nobleman were allowed to perform. Queen Elizabeth gave consent in the next two years, for four noblemen to launch their own theatre companies. William Shakespeare was the most significant dramatist of that period. In 1592, his first play Henry VI was performed. Within the next eleven years twenty-three plays of Shakespeare was acted upon in London. (Elizabethan Theatre: Education on the Internet & Teaching History Online)

Though the Elizabethan theatre and William Shakespeare are inextricably attached together, there were also other writers like the bard of Avon. One of the most flourishing was Christopher Marlowe, who was regarded by many equals as Shakespeare's senior. But Marlowe's livelihood was terminated at a fairly young age when he died in a tavern fight in Deptford, the wounded by a knife in his eye. (David; Express, Elizabethan Theatre) if a quicker investigation of the theatre of Shakespeare's time is taken, it will disclose the dissimilarities between the Elizabethan theatres and the movies and plays of the present day. (Welcome to the world of the Elizabethan theatre!) There was an unhealthy status for the Elizabethan theatre. The theatres were opened across the Thames in Southwark outside the authority of the city administration, as the London authorities declined to permit plays within the city. (David; Express, Elizabethan Theatre)

The plays were enacted in two types of theatre buildings by the late 1500s: the private theatre and the public theatre. The private theatres were small, roofed buildings in which rich spectators assembled to see plays. (Welcome to the world of the Elizabethan theatre) the first suitable theatre as we are familiar with it was the Theatre. In 1576, James Burbage an important member of a well-known group of players, the Earl of Leicester's Men rented capital from his brother-in-law, the grocer John Brayne to construct the first stable playhouse at Shoreditch. It was called the Theatre. The next year the Curtain playhouse came into existence close by in Shoreditch. James Burbage was the father of Cuthbert and Richard Burbage. After ten years, Philip Henslowe built the Rose playhouse across the river in Bankside. Bankside was by now recognized as a place for amusement with its bear-baiting pits, brothels, bull-fighting stadium and inns. (Playhouses: Elizabethan Theatre)

Philip Henslowe, a well-known theatre manager of the time, left a diary from which we have discovered much about the organization of theatre companies; the props they used; the plays acted upon and the dramatists who wrote for them; in addition to the building of the theatre itself. For instance, we know from Hnaslowe's diary that the Rose was constructed with a timber frame set on bricks as base. In 1989 Imry Merchant Developers began construction in the area in which the Rose was built and the remnants of the Rose theatre were exposed. These remnants exposed two stages of the theatre's structure, the original building in 1587 and "a second phase of reconstruction which is also suggested in Philip Henslowe's diary when he speaks of such charges as I have layd owt abowte my play howsse." (Playhouses: Elizabethan Theatre) the Rose could occupy sixteen hundred people as was full on day on which it was open. (Playhouses: Elizabethan Theatre)

In 1600, when the Rose Theatre was apparently trailing out to the newer, fancier Globe, Philip Henslowe, London theatre manager and industrialist, decided to construct a new theatre north of the Thames, outside the city walls. It was to be constructed on Golding Lane just outside Cripplegate in the Liberty of Finsbury, outside the control of the City. Along with his partner and a famous actor Edward Alleyn, Henslowe convened with Peter Street, the builder of the Globe, to build the most luxurious public playhouse, the Fortune. The theatre was intentionally constructed to race with the Globe -- the building agreement, which still stays alive, denotes features which were to be made according to the method and manner of the said house called the Globe, as well as how the Fortune was to be different from its competitor. Instead of the standard round or octagonal shapes of theatres, the Fortune playhouse was to be rectangular. (Ellis-Fermor, 26)

This was suggestive of the inn-yards where public theatre presentations had taken place previous to the first purpose-built public theatre in London, suitably called 'The Theatre'. There was a wide-open patio, a rectangular arena, which was enclosed by a roof, as well as gentlemen's room, two-penny rooms, and a tiring-house in the Fortune. The 'Fortune Theatre' named after the goddess "Fortuna" whose statue adorned the entrance, cost Henslowe over £500 to construct. Till its demolition in 1621 by fire, the Fortune relished much victory. The Fortune was reconstructed with brick and was re-opened in 1623, the first theatre to be so constructed. Though the closing up of the theatres by the Puritans in 1642 had an effect on the Fortune, it rarely had some illicit and secret performances. The Fortune was partly tattered down in 1649, and finally destroyed in 1661 to make way for housing. (Ellis-Fermor, 26)

Thus by the period that Shakespeare was writing his plays, there were more playhouses in London than in any other European city. (Welcome to the world of the Elizabethan theatre) the plays were enacted in the courtyard of inns, or sometimes in the houses of noblemen, before this period. But a noble had to be watchful as to which play should be permitted to perform in his house. Anything that was contentious or political was prone to get him in problem with the crown. (David; Express, Elizabethan Theatre) Not much is known about the Elizabethan indoor theatres as they were smaller in size and were roofed. Companies did their shows in winter when it was too cold to be outside, signifying that the performance was almost certainly alike. Actors had attained an adequate level of monetary and social strength, by the time of Shakespeare. (the Elizabethan Theatre: Introduction to Theatre Online Course)

In London there were six private theatres by 1642. From 1610 to 1642, the private theatres got higher popularity. Public theatres were utilized only during the five warm months. The seating facility of the public theatres was in the size of about 1/4-1/2. Spectators were seated in the cavity or in balconies or private boxes. The stages were almost alike. The common features of public playhouses on the other hand were that they were different in size with the largest seated between 2, 000-3,000. These theatres were in different shapes of round, rectagonal and octagonal. It had a ditch or yard, where the groundlings were having un-roofed space, surrounding the stage on three sides, together with three tiers of roofed balconies. The Gallery was charged more and yard charged less. There were possibly some private balconies. The stage was elevated, 4-6 feet, prolonging to the center of the yard. (the Elizabethan Theatre: Introduction to Theatre Online Course)

'Tiring house' at the back of the elevated platform was where the actors would stay and change. The stage was covered which was called the heavens carried by pillars. Flying was regular, with cranes and ropes. Traps were there in the floor, for fire, smoke and other special effects. There were two doors… READ MORE

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