Characteristics Of Renaissance Theatre

The English Renaissance was a cultural movement in England. It dated all the way back to the 15th to 17th century. The English Renaissance had different ways of living back then. For example, their foods, arts, festivals, weddings and even their daily lives were completely different from Americans today. To think of life any different than it is today would be hard. Well, image being married at the age of 14, being beat by your husband because you were disobedient or marrying someone your parents picked out for you, hard to think of, right? Being married is a beautiful experience and is supposed to be based on love and respect for each other.

In an era of cock-fighting and public executions, theater was a well enjoyed event in Elizabethan social life. During her 45 year reign, gaining the throne in 1558, Queen Elizabeth I gave a women a voice in literature. Her gender had no threat to the stability and glory of nation. Her reign was even considered “The Golden Age” in which saw the birth of Shakespeare;the rise of literature. Four hundred years post Queen Elizabeth I’s death she was still one of the most beloved and admired monarchs of all time. She became a legend for her phenomenal abilities and achievements.

Imagine watching the famous plays of William Shakespeare being performed right in front of yours eyes at the amazing Globe Theater. William Shakespeare was part owner of The Globe Theater. The famous Globe Theater was a place where outstanding plays were performed. This theater held people from all over the world to watch performances. In the article “The Elizabeth Era” states that “often the Queen would come to the Globe Theater to watch Shakespeare’s work “(Alchin). The Globe Theater has great significance to British history because of the building structure, the actors, the performances, the fire accident, and its impact on England and its people.

As theatre began shifting away from the political sphere in the Elizabethan period and focused more on comedic and tragic genres, playwrights were able to feature more intimate and domestic issues in their spectacles, but still regarded courtly settings as the appropriate setting

One of the ways in which theater in Europe has changed between the medieval period has primarily during progressive times and no longer required events of religious influence. For example, medieval plays took a secular approach and introduced French music from Adam de la Halle (Carlson 2014: 13). Throughout the time between the medieval period and the 20th century, changes in European theater varied from additions to performance spaces to the actual content of the plays. During the 16th century, tragedy and comedy plays were kept separate but also incorporated ideas from both genres into stories such as the works of William Shakespeare (Carlson 2014: 17). The 17th-century theater in Europe continued to be influenced by French culture into the 18th century when the focus of plays was shifted to the French drame (Carlson 2014: 19-21). These early periods of theater built the foundation for how theater would be interpreted and influenced in the times later to come.

All of Shakespeare plays were not very popular in that period of time like they are now and it’s amazing because most things they did we thought were weird and it flips during our age. It states on the Elizabethanera.org that the history of the theater is fascinating. How plays were first produced in the yards of inns - the Inn-yards, the very first theater and development of the amphitheater. The

William Shakespeare, a world-renowned playwright, poet, and actor, has been known for centuries all around the world for his great variety of brilliant, poetic, and creative plays written during the Elizabethan Era. Shakespeare’s plays have the reputation of being among the greatest in the English language and Western literature, traditionally divided into the genres of tragedy, history, and comedy, and comprising of various imaginative settings, plots, characters, and conflicts. They have been translated into every major living language, in addition to being continually performed all around the world. Many of Shakespeare’s plays give insight on human nature, astonishingly able to characterize every emotion, strength, and weakness

era and even giving kids a way to experience his great works without giving them the strenuous

“The arts in Europe blossomed into bold new forms, blending the philosophy, and creative forms of the ancient civilizations of Rome and Greece with contemporary European style” (Elizabethan World 1). England was held up in a religious dispute during the fifteenth century, slowing them down on the new influences of the Renaissance. Queen Elizabeth I reign was known as the Elizabethan era, often referred to as the “golden age,” is when the first steps to the English Renaissance had begun. Elizabethan artists were heavily influenced by the English Renaissance, as well as Queen Elizabeth I.

As the country was starting to accept these new cultures it had become the Renaissance Era where new writers and artists had flourished. Shakespeare had published Hamlet in the literary time period of the Renaissance era, in which having limits in human knowledge was no longer there in England (Ben and Justin). During the Renaissance era, it was the time where there was a reformation and rebirth of culture throughout England, with the two dominant forms, poems and drama (Ben and Justin). During this period there was “humanistic movement” influencing Shakespeare to use his own way with words with the concept of “free play of language” (“Influences”). With the Renaissance era, Shakespeare was influenced by the revenge strategies and being able to use words his own way, which were prominent theme in the renaissance era (“Influences”).

Arts in England flourished and prospered during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Furthermore, “The Golden Age” was characterized by the Queen’s patronizing of theatre, which lead it to gain popularity among England. The sixteenth and early seventeenth century witnessed a period of English nationalism, evidently shown through diffused texts in the English language, rather than in Latin. Additionally, the Queen supported playwrights such as William Shakespeare, which lead to depictions of Elizabethan society in his plays. Consequently, influences from London and the royal family influenced plays such as Richard III. Specifically, the play affected the glorification of the Tudors, leading to the villanization of former king Richard III. This

It's a general term for covering plays that are written and performed publicly in england during the reign in 1558-1603.

Drama changed literature and theater into what it is today. I. History of Elizabethan Theater a. forming of theater 1. medieval church 2. mystery and morality b. actors 1. rogues and thieves 2. acting guilds II. Influences and people a. commanding actors 1. Shakespeare 2. Burbage b. other 1. wars of the roses (other historical influences) 2. laws restricting theater III. The theaters a. prices 1. seating 2. stage b. the theater and the globe 1. locations and characteristics 2. Burbage and other accomplishment Elizabethan Drama During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England underwent a dramatic change in priorities. The importance of art and literature became highly prevalent. The impact of the Elizabethan drama and

William Shakespeare is known to be the “greatest English-speaking writer in history” and an England’s national poet, actor, and an extremely successful playwright. During Shakespeare’s acting career in London, he started writing all about “European geography, culture, and diverse personalities (History.com).” Willm Shakspere or William Shakspeare, as written by him, then went on to write plays. His first three plays were all created around or a little before 1592 and captured the core studied categories; tragedy (Titus Andronicus), comedy (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors and The Taming of the Shrew), and history (Henry VI trilogy and Richard III). He wrote plays and sonnets for many theater companies, was one of the main playwrights for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which was renamed the King’s Men when James I was in charge, and formed the Globe theater in 1599 with other partners. Shakespeare’s unique language, themes, verses, format, characters, and plots makes his writing universal to every culture and time period. Shakespeare is still taught in school nowadays due to its’ educational and transitional purposes. Shakespeare continues to influence modern-day life and I believe will for a long time to come.

It was during the Elizabethan age that England felt the complete effect of the Renaissance. There occurred a revival of the old and classical literature of Greece and Rome and this was manifested in the poetry of the age. The Elizabethan age was characterized by an extreme spirit of adventure, aestheticism and materialism which became the characteristic features of Elizabethan poetry. Many poets displayed their skill in versification during this time and England came to be called The Nest Of Singing Birds.