Elizabethan Theatre Essay

Back in Shakespeare's day theatre was different in many ways but also some parts were the same. How is it different? Well, obviously everything was cheap. Pennies for the pit seats, a few more for the galleries, and then the boxes were the most expensive which were probably not as expensive today. Another thing is, they had posters but they weren't really posters or like programs. They contained no lists of actors, and there were no programs, ushers, or tickets or any of the stuff we have today. The name was announced when you got to the actual play. Their playhouses were not sheltered. They were outside, unlike today how we have a building with a roof over our head for plays. They even had vendors walking around giving out food, like at a stadium!

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.

cost 1 penny, to sit cost 2 pennies and for a wealthy person to sit

In cinema’s early days, the film industry was based in New York, the nation’s theatrical center. Most movies were being filmed in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Florida. However, by the 1920’s, southern California had become the leading film capital due to its cheap land and labor. Films gained their popularity after Vaudeville actors striked in 1901. This left theaters scrambling for acts and films became the main event. Silent films were widely popular in the early 1920’s and were usually accompanied by live piano or organ music. Talking-pictures were first introduced in 1923, but did not become popular until 1927.

Others have asserted that the roles of women in his plays were prominent for the time and culture that he lived in,his intent in creating characters to inspire much controversy. Two works, Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night, stand out particularly well in regards to Shakespeare's use of female characters. If you could examine these two plays, you would see that Shakespeare, though conforming to contemporary attitudes of women, circumvented them by creating resolute female characters with a strong sense of self.

Working in American Theartre: A Brief History, Career Guide and Resource Book for over 1,000 Theatres starts out by giving readers advice from professionals in the theatre industry. These professionals range from being artistic directors to professors to actors. The some advices given to the readers is to find a mentor, learn as much as possible, do not give up on one’s dreams, be friendly, etc. Next the readers learn of the birth of theatre in America during the Revolutionary War. Theatre started out as shows with comedians, musicians, and actors. Over the years theatre turned into things like traveling plays and the circus. Everyone wanted to be a part of Theatre and thus came booking agents and The Syndicate. With all these new people

Shakespeare is often criticized or analyzed over his perceptions and representations of Elizabethan gender roles in his works. Many describe Shakespeare as a misogynist, while others argue that he is, in fact, a feminist. Gender roles play a large role in many of Shakespeare’s works, with one in particular being his tragedy of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet. In this work, Shakespeare uses both male and female characters to comment on and represent Elizabethan gender roles in the play, through syntax, word choice, and character relationships. Each of his characters, either male or female, are tied to a different take on Elizabethan gender roles, such as Hamlet not fulfilling the expectations of being a man, and Ophelia wanting to be more than the roles of her gender would allow.

The Elizabethan theater became a central part of social life in Shakespeare’s time and was a form of entertainment that took people’s minds off the daily hardships during the Elizabethan era. The Elizabethan era is known for its English nationalism and advancements of arts during the English Renaissance. Because of this, the Elizabethan era is considered to be the height of the English Renaissance.

During the time in which the play took place society frowned upon women asserting themselves.  Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands, took care of their children,

The first difference is how the theater was built. You think it would be built like a normal theater we would have today. Well, it kind of is but there are a lot of differences. We have theaters that are in a cube like building, and it's split up into different places depending on how fancy it is. Back then the theater has 26 walls and three teirs, or levels. The more upper-class people were near the top and the normal people, more poor people, would be on the ground. The audience would take up about half of the whole building, this makes the stage a bit more cramped so they had to fit most of their props the far half of the stage and then they would do the play on the

The theatre as a profession was not a credible one, and those who participated were looked down upon by the church as the act of playing someone else was considered impure. Therefore, as women had no authority over themselves, they were prohibited by law to perform in a theatrical production. Thus, in Shakespearean plays, it was men who portrayed female characters. Also, women in arts often faced challenges due to their sex, from limited training opportunities to selling their work and gaining recognition. It was a common belief amongst the men who dominated in the field that women were inferior artists. As a result, women’s arts were dismissed as crafts and not ‘fine arts.’ For example, Mary Beale, a successful portraitist in the 1600s struggled for recognition for her art as much of her success was attributed to her

Effect: Men acted female parts. While they may have acted very well and all were accepted by Elizabethan audiences, unlike women who were not given the opportunities to act on stage until the 1600’s. The British prohibition of women actresses was ended in the reign of Charles II who enjoyed watching female actresses on stage. This also represented their lack of external independence.

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

Shakespeare has a difficult task entertaining the rowdy Elizabethan audience, especially during the exposition of the play, which sets up the entire plot. The audience needs to be engaged and invested in the play, otherwise many of the Elizabethan audience would throw food and furniture on stage or vandalize the theatre in response. Shakespeare employs a variety of techniques throughout the exposition of the play in order to do this, by creating tension between characters, introducing scandalous plots and unresolved issues right at the beginning of the play leaving the audience waiting for an answer. This essay will explore Shakespeare’s techniques and methods of engaging his Elizabethan audience.

Imagine if it only cost you one penny to get tickets to a Broadway production. It would almost seem too good to be true! Well, back in the 1600s, in London, you could buy your way into a theater for as little as one penny. This price made it easy for anyone of any class to be able to partake in the festivities. Hence, the reason the theaters became so popular from 1562 to 1642. The theatres were very profitable based on the fact they were so popular in the community. The Elizabethan theatres were viewed as popular entertainment because of their fanciful attributes, their various events, and their several venues.