The Elizabethan StageThe Elizabethan StageBasic Information TheaterBasic Information Theater

Audience InformationAudience InformationPhysical Aspects of GlobePhysical Aspects of Globe

The Sets and EffectsThe Sets and Effects The ActorsThe Actors

Basic InformationBasic Informationperformed wherever they performed wherever they

could find space, usually could find space, usually in court yardsin court yards

First permanent theater First permanent theater built in 1576 built in 1576 outside of London outside of London Built by James BurbageBuilt by James Burbage named “The Theater”named “The Theater”

““The Theater” ChangedThe Theater” Changed1599 “The Theater” 1599 “The Theater”

moved across Rivermoved across RiverMoved b/c of raised rentMoved b/c of raised rentRenamed “The Globe Renamed “The Globe Theater”Theater”

Audience InformationAudience InformationAudience stood; seats for only Audience stood; seats for only

paying customerspaying customersOfficials tried to close theaters Officials tried to close theaters

due to “waste of time”due to “waste of time”1592-1594 London closed 1592-1594 London closed

theaters to help not spread theaters to help not spread the plaguethe plague

Physical Aspects of the Physical Aspects of the GlobeGlobe

““Wooden O”Wooden O”open space - 65’ in diameteropen space - 65’ in diametersurrounded by a circular surrounded by a circular

buildingbuilding30’ high with 3 tiers of seats30’ high with 3 tiers of seats

stage 5’ high, 40’X30’ stage 5’ high, 40’X30’ rectanglerectangle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Globe TheaterGlobe Theater

Globe PerformanceGlobe Performance

Balcony Seats – The GlobeBalcony Seats – The Globe

The Sets and EffectsThe Sets and EffectsBare stage, but used flags, Bare stage, but used flags,

banners and musiciansbanners and musiciansactors lowered from actors lowered from heavens by cranesheavens by cranes

Torches used to make Torches used to make nightnight

Sound Effects- CannonSound Effects- Cannon(sparks from cannon set fire (sparks from cannon set fire to Globe and destroyed it)to Globe and destroyed it)

The Elizabethan The Elizabethan ActorActor

FencingFencing: Audience loved : Audience loved duelsduels

TumblingTumbling: Lots of movement: Lots of movementDancingDancingElocutionElocution: Words were very : Words were very

importantimportantActingActing: Many young boys : Many young boys

played female roles with wigs played female roles with wigs and makeupand makeup

MusicMusic

ACTORSACTORSAll actors were male All actors were male

(played both roles)(played both roles)

considered “rogues, considered “rogues, vagabonds, sturdy vagabonds, sturdy beggars, & common beggars, & common players”players”

Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s LifeLived 1564-1616 days Lived 1564-1616 days of Queen Elizabethof Queen Elizabeth

Greatest and Famous Greatest and Famous Playwright/poetPlaywright/poet

Born April 23, 1564 in Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon

1 of 8 kids1 of 8 kids

Family LifeFamily Life1582 he married 1582 he married Anne Hathaway.Anne Hathaway.

1583 first child born, 1583 first child born, SusannaSusanna

1585 twins born, 1585 twins born, Hamnet and JudithHamnet and Judith

Shakespeare MarriedShakespeare MarriedHis wife, Anne, was the daughter of a His wife, Anne, was the daughter of a

local doctor in Stratford.local doctor in Stratford.This was Shakespeare and Anne’s This was Shakespeare and Anne’s

home in Stratford.home in Stratford.

The PlaywrightThe PlaywrightRival was Robert GreeneRival was Robert GreeneWas an actor for 20 years from Was an actor for 20 years from

1585-16051585-16051594 Charter Member of 1594 Charter Member of

Lord Chamberlain’s MenLord Chamberlain’s Men

1603 Lord Chamberlain’s Men 1603 Lord Chamberlain’s Men became the King’s Menbecame the King’s Men

His WorksHis Works154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book

length narratives poemslength narratives poemsHistories, Comedies, and Histories, Comedies, and

TragediesTragediesGreat Tragedies: Great Tragedies: Julius Julius

CaesarCaesar, , HamletHamlet, , OthelloOthello, , King King LearLear, , MacbethMacbeth, , Antony and Antony and CleopatraCleopatra, and , and Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet

More Info. on WorksMore Info. on WorksAll plays written for Kings; paid $40 per All plays written for Kings; paid $40 per

playplayHis plays were published 7 His plays were published 7

years after his deathyears after his death1623 the 1623 the First FolioFirst Folio was was

published-this is a collection of published-this is a collection of the supposed “true original the supposed “true original copies” of Shakespeare’s playscopies” of Shakespeare’s plays

What What InspiredInspired him? him?characters were REAL characters were REAL people (some historical people (some historical people)people)

other plays and poemsother plays and poems

Caesar InspirationCaesar Inspiration(we’ll be reading parts of this play later!)(we’ll be reading parts of this play later!)

1599 Julius Caesar was 1599 Julius Caesar was written; it was inspired by written; it was inspired by Plutarch’s Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Lives of Noble Grecians and RomansGrecians and Romans

What was his Genius?What was his Genius? Understanding of the Understanding of the peoplepeopleCommonersCommonersRichRichHuman natureHuman nature

Skilled with wordsSkilled with words CharismaticCharismatic

Why does he appeal to Why does he appeal to us?us? People are always quoting him.People are always quoting him.

““It was Greek to me”It was Greek to me”““A sorry sight”A sorry sight”““In a pickle”In a pickle”““To be or not to be”To be or not to be” “ “All that glitters is not gold”All that glitters is not gold”““elbow room” elbow room” ““downstairs”downstairs”““The long and short of it”The long and short of it”

Appeal?Appeal?He is serious, funny, angry, He is serious, funny, angry,

ironical…ironical…He does not make moral He does not make moral

judgmentsjudgmentsHe captures in words and actions He captures in words and actions

all the great problems that have all the great problems that have tormented human beings tormented human beings throughout the ages. We take throughout the ages. We take comfort in the fact that the hero comfort in the fact that the hero has flaws and is not perfect.has flaws and is not perfect.