Shakespearean Drama & TheaterLA IIIMs. McLean

“All the world’s a stage, I and all the men and women merely players.”

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare Born in 1564 in

Stratford-upon-Avon

Dad was a businessman and town official

Mom inherited land

Married Anne Hathaway when he was 18 (she was 26)

Shakespeare family crest

His will

Lifeo 37 plays, collection of

sonnets (Shakespearean sonnet) and narrative poems

o 1,700 new words into the English language

o translated into 118 languages (including sign language)

Death

Died in 1616 on April 23rd – his 52nd birthday

In 1623 colleagues published First Folio

“was not of age, but for all time” according to legend he died

Arrived in London in the late 1580s.

Over next 20 years he rarely returned home

Worked as playwright and actor

In 1590s wrote mostly comedies

1594 joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men

1599 purchased and rebuilt the Globe King’s Men

Shakespeare’s Theater & The Globe

The GlobeThree-story wooden structure

Held as many as 3,000

Open-air theater

Natural light/illumination

Scenery was minimalTrap door for witches

Enclosed tower behind to create sound effectsThunder, drums, bells

Above back stage – “the heavens”

The Globe

• “groundlings” and wealthier patrons welcomed

• Actors worked in close proximity to groundlings

• Jeer and throw food to show dislike

• Rowdiness of audience and location near taverns gave immoral reputation