Textuality » 4A Interacting
ELIZABETH THEATERS
by - (2011-01-12)
Up to 4 A. Shakespeare and His Plays and Theatre
MEDIEVAL DRAMA: based on the Bible and religious stories. Its allegoral charachters were didactic. This performances took place everywhere, in the churches, streets.ELIZABETHAN PLAYHOUSES: the first one was an open air theater built in 1576 by James Burbage, it was called the Theater. After this a lot of other theaters were built and when Shakespeare arrived in London there was a fluorishing of drama scene. But puritains considered it immoral because it kept away from work. All this theaters were built in on the south bank of river. But in 1599 the Chamberlain’s men, the company of Shakespeare built the globe in Southwark, which became the Theaterland. It was demolished by puritans in 1644.PERFORMANCES: the main season was winter, because the risk of spreading of the plague increased durind the summer. Performances took place in the afternoon and were acted only by men and boys. Shakespeare often exploits to create confusion for comical effect. Theaters hold large audiences, people of all sorts. The groundings were the cheapest ploaces, people had to stand on the ground. This places were called stinkards because of the smell. There were no scenary, no cutrains and no pause, so plays had a very quick pace and audiences had to imagine the scenography.: were noisy and violent places, there were thiefs, prostitutes and beggars. In Shakespeare time director was less important than the main actor. Another great favourite of crowds were the clowns. All in all for londoners giong to the theater was exciting and important.