Elizabethan Theater
Adrian DeLaCruz
English 121
The Elizabethan Era
 The Elizabethan theater was influenced by the Roman and Greek
dramatists.
 Town guilds (organizations of craftsmen who worked in the same
profession) reenacted Old and New Testament stories such as Noah and
the flood and the crucifixion of Christ. These spectacles were called mystery
plays and were also performed in the market square or on church steps.
 Morality plays were developed in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
which reenacted scenes that represented the Christian way of life. For
example , the play Everyman (1500) dramatized the good and bad qualities
of Everyman
 By the middle of the sixteenth century, mystery and morality plays had lost
its popularity. One of the reasons was that these plays associated with
Catholicism and this was discouraged by the Protestant clergy. In addition,
plays of ancient Greece and Rome substituted the traditions of religious
drama. English plays followed and dealt with murder, revenge and blood
vengeance. These plays were enormously popular. (20,000-25,000 people
attended performances each week).
The Elizabethan Era cont
 Despite the popularity of the theater, actors and playwrights went
through difficulties. People associated with the royal court thought
that the playwrights weakened the authority of Queen Elizabeth by
spreading rebellious ideas. As a result, performances were under
the control of the Master of Revels who had the power to censor
plays and grant licenses for performances.
 Acting companies that wanted to have a performance had to get a
license which was only possible with the support from a powerful
nobleman.
 Actors and playwrights joined together and formed acting companies
to gain financial independence and performed works like
Tamburlaine and The Spanish Tragedy
Globe Theater, 1599-1613
 William Shakespeare's plays were performed here.
 It has multiple stages for action to be performed
 Today, a reconstruction of this theater stands on the south bank of the
Thames River in London.
 In the 1940’s, actor Sam Wanamaker was shocked to find that nothing
honored this theater so he decided to raise money to reconstruct the Globe.
The Globle Playhouse Trust was founded in 1970s but reconstruction didn’t
begin until the 1980s.
 The first performance at the reconstructed Globe happened on June 14,
1996.
Globe Theatre Structure
 Main stage- extended out into the open-air yard where common
people stood.
 Hell- a space beneath the stage which enabled actors to “disappear”
or descend into a hole if the play needed such action
 Heavens- a roof above the stage. Protected actors from weather
and had ropes and pulleys to lower props or to create special effects
 Chamber- located above rear stage. Functioned as a balcony
 Music gallery- located above chamber & balcony that housed the
musicians who provided musical interludes
 Huts- windows located above music gallery. Used by characters
using lookouts.
Limitations of the Theater
 Young boys (ages 10-12) played all women’s parts.
 No artificial lighting so plays had to be performed in
daylight
 Since few props and few sets were used, the audience
had to visualize the high walls of a caste for example
 Plays had no intermission except for musical interludes
Seating
Determined by the wealth and the social
status of the people.
The wealthiest people took the best seats