Concise Notes on Elizabethan Theatre

Elizabethan Theatre

Introduction & Background

  • The Elizabethan Age:
    • Also known as the Golden Age.
    • A period of strong nationalism and economic prosperity.
    • Religious conflicts existed between Catholics and Protestants.
    • The plague caused significant devastation.
  • Daily Life: Average life expectancy was around 40 years of age. Largely rural, with growing towns. Hygiene was poor, and waste disposal was lacking.
  • The Vagabond Act of 1572: Actors were categorized similarly to rogues and vagabonds.
  • Licensing: All performances had to be licensed, and the Master of Revels had the right to censor plays.

Elizabethan Period

  • Queen Elizabeth I: Reigned from 1558.
  • English Renaissance: Influenced by Italy.
  • Religion: Elizabeth was Protestant and banned medieval mystery plays, leading to modern dramas.
Chain of Being
  • Medieval philosophy: Everyone had a specific place in creation.
  • Disrupting the chain was thought to cause chaos.
The Humors
  • Belief that the human body contained four humors influencing health and personality:
    1. Melancholic: Black bile related to sadness.
    2. Phlegmatic: Phlegm related to being unemotional.
    3. Choleric: Yellow bile related to quick temper.
    4. Sanguine: Blood related to optimism.

Comedies

  • Influenced by medieval romance and courtly love.
  • Romantic comedies explored people falling in love and finding harmony.

History Plays

  • Elizabethans used history for political points, themes of leadership and power were prevalent.
  • Example: Julius Caesar

Tragedies

  • Explored morality and the clash between good and evil.
  • Illustrated the Wheel of Fortune concept.
  • Tragic Heroes: Characters of high birth facing dilemmas, often due to self-imposed decisions e.g., Othello (jealousy), Hamlet (revenge/insanity), Macbeth (greed).

Elizabethan Theatre

  • Globe Theatre: Built in 1598, co-owned by shareholders including William Shakespeare.
Public and Private Theatres
  • Public theatres: Open-roofed, cheaper.
  • Private theatres: Indoor halls, more expensive.
  • The Blackfriars was a notable private theatre.
The Globe
  • Constructed from the dismantled Theatre.
  • The original Globe burned down in 1613 and was rebuilt.
  • Performances were held in the afternoon.
Audience
  • Included various social classes.
  • Wealthy individuals sat in galleries, while commoners stood in the open space.
  • Audiences were lively and vocal.
Staging Techniques
  • Limited scenery.
  • Special effects were common, such as lowering gods from the heavens.
  • Musicians provided music and sound effects.
  • Spoken Décor setting was created through the words themselves.
  • Tiring House also known as the backstage area where props were laid out.
Theatre Companies
  • Each company had a patron for financial support.
  • Shakespeare was part of Lord Chamberlain's company and later the King's Men.
Elizabethan Actors
  • Actors needed to be educated and skilled in various performance aspects.
  • Female roles were played by young boys.

The Language of Shakespeare

  • Relied on vivid descriptions to create images.
  • Used imagery and figures of speech extensively.
  • Characters' speech varied by social class.