“The Shakespearean Theatrical World”from

The Complete Pelican Shakespeare (xliii-xlv)

Economic realities in Shakespeare’s World

For centuries, theatre activity in England had been nonprofessional

O Craft guilds provided religious dramaO These mystery plays were

celebrations of religious and civic festivals

O Performed in Latin, these forms were established and socially acceptable

Professional TheatreExisted on the margins of society

O Companies touredO Actors were not held in high esteem

Professional Theatre began to gain respectability in the mid 16th century when wealthy aristocrats began to support acting companies

O Lord Admiral’s MenO Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Permanent Theatre were built beginning with the Red Lion in 1567

Others followedThe Theatre – 1576The Rose – 1587The Swan – 1596 The Globe – 1599The Fortune - 1600The Second Globe - 1613

Remains of the Rose• Small thrust stage that tapered into

pit• Stage was 25 feet wide in front • 36 feet at the back • 16 ½ feet deep

Owned by Philip Henslowe, it was “improved” in 1592. Stage was enlarged and seating increased

A typical English playhouse as seen in Shakespeare’s day

Theatres were half full on most performance days

Population in London (1590-1620) estimated between 150,000 and 250,000

Almost a tenth of the population attended the theatres

Repertories changed often. In the month between Sept 15 and Oct 15, 1595, the Lord Admiral’s Men played 28 performances of 18 different plays

Public playhouses operated in daylight (Noon to 3)

Bill included a play followed by a dance, fencing display or other nondramatic exhibition

Performances were played every day except during Lent or periods of plague, when the theatres were closed

Modern Globe was constructed based upon research of the period

AudiencesMagic and violence were popular.

Special effects were developed using pig bladders, winches, cannons, fireworks and musicians.

From 1576-1590 and 1599-1614, Public playhouses competed with private playhouses like those at court.

CompaniesProfessional companies at court made use of boy companies. In the outdoor theatres, the actors were adult men and boys…no women actors during Shakespeare’s lifetime.

Outdoor theatres seated 2000-2500, the indoor spaces on 200-600. Private theatres charged higher prices.

Musical entertainments were performed between “acts” in the private theatres.

Shakespeare wrote for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Later the King’s Men)

Distinctions between public and privates changed by the end of the 1610s

Actors continued to be considered as vagabonds unless connected to the patronage of an aristocrat or member of the royal family

A joint-stock companyShakespeare and his fellow company members made a good living at the height of their popularity and their royal patronage helped lend them credibility.

Still public officials considered the theatres a nuisance because the drew rowdy crowds, they were noisy, attracted pickpockets and whores, etc.

Public entertainmentsUntil the Civil War (1616-1642) anti-theatrical forces failed to shut down the theatres.

The theatre remained popular during Shakespeare’s most prolific days.

The prevalence of public entertainments in the period “has been underestimated. Fairs, holidays, games, sporting events all were popular, but the theatre was most popular.