Closing and Reopening of the American Theatres

340 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theatres of the Elizabethan period

England was split into two worlds during Elizabeth's reign. There was the world of Whitehall (The Court) and the world of the country. The country saw the establishment of the Puritan tradition. The Puritans were essentially anti-culture and were considered enemies of art and popular culture, the Puritans believed in piety, austerity and sobriety not only in dressing but also in manners. Thus they were driving people weary and making them long for a change and seek entertainment and pleasure.

The stage and the drama

Elizabethan reign saw a sudden rise in the standards of the drama. The number of dramatic works increased along with the quality of writing.

The plays were not only performed in theatres but special performances were staged in the court. Some actors who were successful did not need to go to peaces to perform, people cane to see their plays.

There was lack of professional bands of actors. Therefore those bands which found most success were patronized by the court. The Earls of Essex, Pembroke and others all had their own bands. Certain troops became so famous that people thronged to see them, therefore leading to the opening of theatres. The first playhouse "the theatre" opened in 1577 and the famous "the Globe" opened in 1599.

closing and reopening of the theatres

The puritans were against the theatres. They saw corruptible traits emerging through the costume world of theatre. They were particularly against having boys playing the parts of females. they protested against these factors and closed down several theatres while demolishing the others.

Until the 1660's there weren't any theatres or drama companies left. With the restoration of Charles II, (who was exiled in 1642), in1660, England was brought into the modern age. People became more open and less conservative. The 17th century England questioned the supremacy of God and church. It shifted from heavenliness to earthliness.

Two new theatres were built - "theatre Royal" and the Duke's theatre. Both the theatres were completely modern with latest inventions to provide for the scenery and machinery for the plots.

Due to the restoration of drama, the English society underwent a major breakthrough.

Show More
Related

  • Summary: Margret Jones And The Salem Witch Trials

    970 Words  | 2 Pages

    The puritans had a strong belief that God had set them on a mission to pave the way for all human kind. The puritan way was a very strict and rigorous system. Anything out of order seemed strange and raised many questions. Anything that went against this code was seen as a sin and the accuser deserved to be punished. They believed in the wrath of God and feared it gravely they tried everything they could to prevent it on themselves. Thus why the witch trials were taken in such serious matter.

    Read More

  • William Bradford

    416 Words  | 1 Pages

    The puritans were very religious. They wanted to show everyone what happens if you are good and believe in god and the heavens. If you do bad things you would be punished or be killed. If you do good things you can be hand chosen to go to heaven.

    Read More

  • Puritans Religious Persecution

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Puritans were English Protestants, mostly Protestant extremists, who fled England to escape religious persecution. Most were raised with extremely strict morals and values. Puritans were also known as “Precisionists” for being precise in their sermons and studies. The process in which Puritanism developed was primarily caused by King Henry VIII; he transformed the Church of Rome into a state of The Church of England. In outrage, angered English men and women were determined to continue their faith and way of life; this just so happened in the New World. Across the pond, this region became commonly known as “New England”. The puritan people were distinguished by the clothes they wore and their opposition the episcopal system. Now-a-days most people would think the Puritan way of life would be radical by any sorts. What the Puritans did in their era was completely and utterly wrong, as we now know. As we look back on their way of life, most come to not respect the people as a whole.

    Read More

  • The Salem Witch Trials

    2023 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Puritans were Englishmen who chose to separate from the Church of England. Puritans believed that the Anglican Church or Church of England resembled the Roman Catholic Church too closely and was in dire need of reform. Furthermore, they were not free to follow their own religious beliefs without punishment. In the sixteenth century the Puritans settled in the New England area with the idea of regaining their principles of the Christi...

    Read More

  • Technical Theater During the Restoration Lighting and Scenic Design England 1660-1800

    4810 Words  | 10 Pages

    The Restoration in England was an era ripe for the development of new ideas in the arts. The return of the Stuart monarchy under Charles II marked the end of eighteen years of almost dictatorial control by Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan parliament. Cromwell had campaigned actively to halt all theatrical activity. In the end, however, his laws were actually responsible for helping move England forward in theatrical history. Actors, under Cromwell's laws, were to be apprehended a rogues if they were caught "in the act" so to speak of performing their trade. Some left their careers and sought employment elsewhere. Most, however, remained undaunted by parliament's threats. Productions continued quietly in tennis courts, inns and private houses. Officials were bribed to keep silent their knowledge of violations. The theater in England had moved indoors as it had already done in France and Italy. Although the reasons for the move were different, the end result was the same. Up until this time plays had always been performed outdoors in the early afternoon. Performances traditionally relied on sunlight, natural scenery, and minimal set pieces that could be easily transported from one location to another. Indoor productions required something much more elaborate. The preliminary concepts of scenic design and lighting design began to form in England in the late 1650's. During the Restoration, as controls were lifted, technical theater began to flourish. Many early examples of modern stage techniques were born between 1660 and 1800, making the Restoration a significant era in the history of scenic design and lighting for the theater. The art of scenic design did not begin in England. As early as 1570 the Italians were giving elaborate opera performances in the ducal courts using perspective scenes and various types of stage machinery. The French mimicked the design ideas of the Italian's and gave them a name, la scene a l'italienne. (Southern 221) Although Cromwell had banned public theater, opera was still considered a lawful art form. In England, just prior to the Restoration, John Webb designed the scenery for William D'avenant's 'opera' production of The Siege of Rhodes.

    Read More

  • The Globe Theater, Home of Many of Shakespeare's Plays

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    The curtains of the play draw, the audience, quiet and eager waits for the lights to dim to see what William Shakespeare had brought before them. Shakespeare’s plays became enjoyable and fun to watch, seeing actors dress in amazing costumes and props used in The Globe Theater. (1-1)

    Read More

  • Elizabethan Threatre versus Theatre Today

    287 Words  | 1 Pages

    Elizabethan theatres were much different than the theatres of today. They were open aired and circular in design. The stage and acting areas were also mcuh different than in theatres today.

    Read More

  • Identity In The Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    Puritans society is very judgmental, strict, and they are hypocrites. The biggest thing about the puritans is their very religious. They also take sins serious. They believed that God expected them to live according to the Scriptures. In The Scarlet Letter, there were some Puritans things going on as well with The Minister’s Black Veil.

    Read More

  • Puritan Essay

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Puritans are generally viewed as religious extremists. Their religious beliefs were extended to all areas of life, and were zealously enforced. This is true for the most part, especially the way they conducted themselves publicly. They believed in public piety to the extent that once, “a young married couple was fined twenty shillings for the crime of kissing in public” (Kennedy, 45). This couple was already married, so one can imagine the people would come to feel that rules like this served no purpose. As Albion’s Seed reads, Puritans “believed that costume should not be a form of sensual display” (140). Their finickiness even included their refrain from wearing the color black because it was too stylish for anyone but the elect. It would be difficult to see how this relates to any scriptural laws of God, therefore, one can imagine how people would grow tired of such pointless restrictions on every trivial choice and action.

    Read More

  • The Puritans

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    Puritans are discontented with the Church of England. The Puritans are people, who stand in for the pure doctrin of the bible. They reject all forms of religious practise. Every written word in the bible must be believed from them. Who follows God's moral codes will be blessed with eternal life. The conflict between the King, the Church of England and the Puritans had reached the climax when William Laud became the new Archbishop of Canterbury. He brought new beliefs in the Church, but this was unacceptable for the Puritans. This new beliefs included emphasise on individual acceptance or rejection of God's grace, toleration for a varity of religious beliefs, and the incoporation of "high church" symbols. For the Puritans is this not true belief. So they wished to get rid of all catholics influence in their religion. Thats the reason why they split from the Church of England in 1633.

    Read More

  • How Did William Shakespeare Rise To Fame During The Elizabethan Golden Age

    467 Words  | 1 Pages

    During the Elizabethan Era, many theaters became famous and playwrights and poets rose to fame. People such as William Shakespeare immersed themselves into the modern culture they had lived in. There were two main points that were advanced due to the Golden Age. The small theater companies that were once quiet, became extremely popular. More plays were performed and poets could be inspired to do more work for the greater audiences. The government was encouraged with wealth and happiness since they were no longer connected to the Catholic Church. The Elizabethan Golden Age had a greater impact on major aspects of the English culture like theater and politics.

    Read More

  • Elizabethan Theater

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabethan times in the 1600s was a progression for the world of the theater. A period named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, it is from this period that modern day society has its foundation for the entertainment industry. From the violence that was prevalent because of the Black Death, people turned to the theater for its poetry and romance. During this time period, there were two types of theatrical performances that were available for the people’s viewing, comedies or tragedies. These two genres were never really intertwined until the time of William Shakespeare. His play, Romeo and Juliet, is an example of both a comedy and a tragedy. It starts off as a comedy with Romeo weeping like a baby because of his love Rosaline, who did not love him back and ends as a tragedy when Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star crossed lovers, commit suicide because the lost of each other. It was also during Shakespeare’s time that writer were finally acknowledged by the people. Before this time, writers were not considered upper classman. Another group of people that began to rise into a higher social class were the actors. Actresses were not present back then because women were not allowed on stage. It was considered unladylike to have a female actor. Men played all the parts. Theater owners were dependent on actors to make them a profit. Rehearsals for the plays were fairly short, only lasting for about a week. The performances themselves would only show for three to four days.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare Life and Accomplishments

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Elizabethan era is historically depicted as the golden age of English history. During this time people diverted from tradition and entered a new way of life, through theater, poetry, literature, and other everyday practices. Some major modifications that occurred during the Elizabethan era was urbanization; many people moved from the countryside into towns in search of work. Exciting discoveries were found during this period as the ‘new world’, present-day America, was found. Resulting in new foods such as tomatoes and turkey as well as new spices to be brought back to Europe. Education was also improved as the development in printing made cheaper books available to all social classes; moreover school and collages started to prosper. (elizabethan-era.org.uk)

    Read More

  • Informative Essay On Theatre

    1730 Words  | 4 Pages

    “This theatre was a way to celebrate the end of Puritan rule, with its strict moral codes…. To celebrate the opening of the theaters, Restoration plays were lavish, often immoral by uritan satndards, and poked fun at both royalists and roundheads”.— Politics, Literacy Culture, and Theatrical Media. Theatres were banned for 18 years and reopened. And although the audience looked for thrill in every play, they also thoroughly enjoyed comedies. and Plays like Romeo and Juliet were rewritten with a happy ending. the significant playwrights of this era

    Read More

  • The Elizabethan Age

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live during the Elizabethan Era? To see the works of great playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson firsthand? The theater was one of the cornerstones of Elizabethan life, and many people knew the works of Shakespeare and Jonson. While Shakespeare was arguably the greatest of the time, many other playwrights, including Jonson, flourished during this time period.

    Read More

More about Closing and Reopening of the American Theatres

Open Document