Importance Of Renaissance Theatre

How did Elizabethan theater affect popular entertainment? It affected popular entertainment massively at the time because it was very different than anything that had been popular entertainment before it and because even though it was popular it attracted a lot of criticism from the English Society. It came about in a time when drama shifted from religious to a secular function in society. The Elizabethan Theater lasted from the end of the 16th century and well into the 17th century. And it set out the stage for some actors very well-known even today.

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.

The Italian Renaissance is the “rebirth” of new ideas based on classical teachings. The Italian Renaissance gave birth to many innovations in theater architecture and scene design, including the proscenium arch stage, painted-flat wings and shutters, and Torelli’s mechanized pole-and-chariot system. In addition, the Italian Renaissance saw the development of the neoclassical rules of dramatic structure, and of opera and Commedia dell’arte. Between the 14th and 16th centuries Renaissance drama developed in Italy, marking an end to medieval practices and a release of traditional Roman ways of presenting drama. (Web.) The three major Renaissance contributions to Theatre were one, Neoclassical ideal in playwriting and criticism, two, Italianate staging and architecture, and three, Commedia dell’arte. By 1600, this rebirth had moved to other parts of Europe. It remained dominant for over 200 years, especially among upper classes.

Shakespeare is important to modern day writing because his plays include timeless themes such as friendship, love, and vengeance. Characters of Shakespeare are recognized by the second their names are invoked. Shakespeare also influenced how the roles of men and women are established and the equality between each other through his plays and many works. William Shakespeare is one of the most influential writers during the sixteenth century, and his works continue to have an impact on American culture today.

Shakespeare has shaped the oeuvres of others since the 1600s with his comedies, tragedies and historical dramas:

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

Shakespeare's time has many differences including the profit you get when you write a play. As well as how you are valued if you are an actor, the role women play when it's being decided who they're going to marry, and their knowledge of history.

Shakespeare in England was a greatly influential individual himself. At the time he was producing plays, the arts were not always an appreciated skill that people thought highly of. Many play writers were overlooked and never truly appreciated in their day. Shakespeare was one of the lucky few in England as nobility took the time to recognize and see his plays specifically. Shakespeare had to be very mindful of the content of his plays and how he portrayed certain events, such as the Gunpowder Plot, to the audience. Being caught between pleasing his government and maintaining his integrity, Shakespeare managed to fulfill his role to both quite delicately.

Queen Elizabeth recognized the importance of the arts to the life and legacy of her nation. Very fond of plays, Queen Elizabeth permitted professional theaters to be built in England for the first time. These new and improved theaters attracted 15,000 theatergoers per week in London. (Arts). In addition to Shakespeare's masterpieces of the stage like Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, Sir Philip Sidney's Defence of Poesie was written during this golden age in the literary arts (Arts). Queen Elizabeth managed to capture the imagination of influential poets such as Edmund Spenser and Sir Walter Ralegh (Moose). The Shakespearean sonnet, Spenserian stanza, and dramatic blank verse also came into practice during the period. Queen Elizabeth’s appreciation for theatre led to the introduction of many new theatres and famous playwrights that promoted English culture (Arts). In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth’s role in the English Renaissance confirms that her reign resulted in a positive impact on English

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”).

The Globe Theater was established by Shakespeare’s acting company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, in 1599. It was composed of 5 brilliant actors: Augustine Phillips, Will Kempe, Thomas Pope, John Heminge, and William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s wealth and career developed in this theater, which showed some of his plays like Henry VII. A funny incident that occurred during the showing of this play on June 29, 1613 was that a fireball special effect was miss shot and hit the theater, sending it to flames. The theater was quickly rebuilt within 2 years and started showing plays to the citizens once again. The Globe Theater was a hexagonal structure with a

When Christopher Marlowe, the most famous playwright in his time (Lace, 79), died, William Shakespeare was his successor. Shakespeare decided drama was to be his career after seeing the Queen’s Players during a visit to his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon in 1587 (Lace, 79). By the time of Marlowe’s death, Shakespeare was already well known for his three part “Henry VI” in 1592 (Lace, 79). His plays “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “Romeo and Juliet”, both in 1594, were performed and he became the most outstanding playwright of his time (Lace, 79). Before Elizabeth’s reign was over, “Richard II”, “Julius Caesar”, “Henry V”, and “Hamlet” had been performed (Lace, 79). James Burbage was the second most influential actor of the Elizabethan period, but not only for his acting talent. Burbage built the first ever public playhouse in England, opening in 1576 (Unknown, 218). Burbage financed the building of “The Theater” alone, a well off man but was still considered a rogue. Actors were not the only influence on theater. When Mary Tudor decided the throne was rightfully hers, the War of the Roses ensued (Lace, 73). Because of the War of the Roses, many nobles, that employed actors, were killed (Lace, 73). This forced actors to form their own troupes (Lace, 73). In 1572, parliament passed the Poor Laws, making it a criminal offense to be a vagabond (Lace, 75). This reduced the number of acting companies and required them to be

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.

“In roughly built playhouses and cobblestone inn yards, an extraordinary development took place in England in the 1500s.” (Yancey, 8). At that time, an opportunity combined to produce literature achievement never before witnessed in the history of drama and theater. The renaissance, helped spark this movement by inspiring scientific and artistic creativity throughout the land. Models began writing dramas that portrayed life in both realistic and imaginative ways. This created work later captured the attention of the world that changed the English drama. The many aspects of Elizabethan theater helped to shape the acting and theater world forever.

There were other amenities that were lacking for the theaters. Almost all the lighting for the theater was natural light. This meant that most plays would have to be show during the daytime. The theaters did not have heating either. In the winter months they would have to shut the theater down and be transferred to indoor playhouses. This actually helped boost popularity because it gave the people something to do during the cold winter months since it was inside. There were no microphones or soundboards to be able to hear so actors had to speak loudly and clearly. Unfortunately, there were also no toilets at the theater. “But there were no toilets and the floor they stood on was probably just sand, ash or covered in nutshells” (Shakespeare Globe Education). During the summer hours when it would become real hot the pit would be called the “stinkards.”