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Theatre life in Elizabethan times
theatre from the Elizabethan's era.
influence on shakespeare's writings
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The Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre is probably the most important structure in
Shakespeare's dramatic career. The Chamberlain's Company built it in
1599, and it stood on the Southern shore of the Thames River in
London. At this time Shakespeare was a member of the Chamberlain's
Company, and therefore he became a shareholder in the theatre. The
profits actors made off of their shares were their main means of
support, as it was for Shakespeare.
The Globe was just one of many theatres built in London around this
time. The residents of London were in mood for entertainment, and in
response many theatres for acting, bear baiting, and bull baiting were
built throughout the countryside.
Wealthy individuals were often patrons of the performances, and would
therefore purchase a theatre of their own, or in some cases an acting
company would purchase a theatre and play only for selected groups.
Some of these theatres located in London were The Black friars I and
II, St. Paul's, The White friars, Salisbury Court, The Cockpit, and
Drury Lane.
The original globe theatre
The Chamberlain's Company, who built the Globe, formed in 1594. At the
time, it was one of only two licensed acting companies in London.
Among the eight actors in the group were Shakespeare and Richard
Burgage, (who was another notable English actor). Of the eight, only
six donated the funds used to build the theatre. The Chamberlain's
Company later changed its name to the King's Company when James took
over the English throne.
The Globe wElizabethan Playhouseas the most important structure to
Shakespeare's drama because most of his plays were written to be
performed on the stage of the Globe. Those plays written by
Shakespeare under the context of performance at the Globe include:
Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Othello, Measure for Measure,
King Lear, MacBeth, Anthony and Cleopatra, Pericles, Prince of Tyre,
and Cymbeline.
Plays were important to the residents of London because they were an
efficient way of getting a message to many people and entertain them
Shakespeare’s shows have been performed throughout the world including Great Britain. They have been seen in the Globe Theatre in London since the Elizabethan times.
Imagine standing in an octagonal shaped structure, enclosing a roofless inner pit. You are standing on a shell-carpeted floor and in front of you is a projected stage; a theater. Behind you are wooden seats and oak balusters. Have any idea of where you are? You are standing in the pit of Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theater.
The Globe Theater was built around 1598 in London’s Bankside district. It was one of four major
At a hundred and four years old, the State Theatre still stands as one of Bay City's most recognizable landmarks. Despite floods, fires, and a century's worth of history, the theater proudly remains and operates on Washington Street. Dozens of events are put on there each year. Orchestras, Vaudeville, various musical groups, and comedians are just a few of the thousands of acts that have been housed within its walls. The building inside has been remodeled various times over the last few decades, and each time parts of the past have been found. Though there's a haunting presence, the six hundred seat house is still full for most events. The theater may not be run by the same employees, and the jobs have changed, but the theater is still as loved by many as it was when it was first opened. The State Theatre of Bay City has one thrilling past from its century of being alive!
It was New Year’s Day and the year was 1866, the building was the grandiose Turner Opera House. William M and Joseph M Turner od West Carrolton built the oldest standing Theater still in existence in Dayton, Ohio. The theater cost 225,000 dollars when first opened. The Turner Opera House on 138 North Main St. caught the attention of Daytonians and the rest of the country. The Victoria Theater has definitely had its ups and downs and trials and tribulations over the last 146 years. Having survived floods, fires and tragedies the Victoria Theater is still standing and is a prominent historical building in Dayton, Ohio.
William Shakespeare was a part of a group of actors from the Lord of Chamberlain’s Men, a theatrical company. The Globe Theatre was built by this established theatrical company. In the year 1599, the Lord or Chamberlain’s Men lead actors including Shakespeare, decided to build the Globe Theater in London. They could not use the Blackfriars Theatre because the residents near it blocked performances there. They were also tired of of renting playhouses. A first of its kind, the Lord of Chamberlain’s Men became a consortium of actors that got their money together to build their own theatre.
"I would have been more successful if I'd left movies immediately, stayed in the theater, gone into politics, written, anything”(Cramer). This quote from Orson Welles during an interview in 1982 produces questions about the career of one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the twentieth century. How could the director of Citizen Kane, the movie cherished as the best movie of last century, wished for his life to be void of the cinema? How could he wish to have continued in theater when most of the critical acclaim he experienced in that medium has been long forgotten? Most people do not even realize that Welles was an acclaimed director of theatre before Citizen Kane because Citizen Kane overshadows all of the rest of this genius’ work. Yet, Orson Welles’ theatre is just as important as his filmmaking because in all that he did, Welles exhibited the same artistic tendencies. His theatre was a unique experience and a creative achievement, but it also inspired his later work in films. The theatre of Orson Welles provides significant insight for an understanding of his films and what went wrong with his career in Hollywood.
The Globe Theater is widely known as the world’s greatest amphitheatre of its time, bringing in crowds of thousands of people. The Globe was also where most of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, performed his plays. With its unique design, the audience was able to enjoy the plays. Inside of this round and globe-like structure, the people from all around the area packed into the seats to watch Shakespeare and his actors. Despite the Globe Theater’s success, the theater had gone through many shut downs and rebuilding projects. Finally, the Globe was demolished for the last time. It was not until years later that the theater was discovered. Now, people from around the world are learning about this amphitheater and its role in the Renaissance time period. The Globe Theater is known for its structure, audience and actors, and history.
I recently had the extreme good fortune to do a one-week residency at Shakespeare's Globe in London, rehearsing and performing in the First Quarto version of Hamlet with the University of Texas Shakespeare at Winedale Program. Our experience there, working in the theatre and watching the Globe company perform, taught us much about the staging challenges of an Elizabethan playhouse, as well as the invigorating possibilities of such a stage for actors and audiences.
The original Globe theater, built in 1576, was actually just called "The Theater" and was
Although it started out as just another type of dance, Kabuki eventually emerged into an important and fascinating theatre where elaborate makeup and costumes combined to put on entertaining performances for audiences throughout the centuries.
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.
The Globe Theatre was where Shakespeare had most of his plays performed. It had many decorations to make it look appealing and to try and to make it seem expensive and luxurious. The Globe Theatre was built in just 6 months between 1597 and 1598 just outside central London. The Thames River separated it from St Paul’s cathedral. The Globe was made in a round circular shape. This meant that at least one actor would have their back to the audience, however, this would not have mattered because the audience came mainly to hear the play – not to see it. When you were buying a seat for the theatre, the most expensive seats would not be the ones with the best view, they would be the closest ones in order to hear better. Also, these seats would be facing towards the audience, which means that everyone would see them, meaning fame. The Globe would usually be packed with decorations and ornaments. These would have nothing to do with the play, it was used to make the theatre look more attractive/expensive. Lots of people would come to see the plays. They would do this because Shakespeare’s plays were not published at that time so the public would want to see it...
Ancient Greek Theater is the first historical record of “drama,” which is the Greek term meaning “to do” or “to act.” Beginning in the 5th century BC, Greek Theater developed into an art that is still used today. During the golden age of the Athenians plays were created, plays that are considered among the greatest works of world drama. Today there are thousands of well-known plays and films based on the re-make of ancient drama.
Epic Theatres "Epic Theatre turns the spectator into an observer, but arouses his capacity for action, forces him to take decisions.the spectator stands outside, studies." (Bertolt Brecht. Brecht on The Theatre. New York: Hill & Yang, 1964. p37. The concept of “epic theatre” was brought to life by German playwright, Bertolt Brecht.