Shakespeare Unit Greek Theater Globe Theater and Shakespeare

Shakespeare Unit Greek Theater, Globe, Theater, and Shakespeare Biography Notes

Traveling Groups… n Traveled from town to town and act out their plays n Received room and board for acting out their play n Some thought they were gypsies & ran them off n Found a stage in England in 150 o’s and stopped traveling

Inn Yards… n Where actors acted out their plays, usually for room and board

Bearbaiting… n The audience gambled on the survival of the bears or dogs in an octagon shaped building n Bears teeth and claws were removed and dogs attacked to see who would win

Bankside Theaters… n The Globe, the Swan, and the Rose were all Bankside theaters n Actors left London and went south across the Thames River to build the first theater

The h e a t e r … n Created by James Burbage in 1575 in London n The land theater was built on was rented land; when the lease was up, theater was argued over n Over Christmas, Burbage took theater apart from the rented land rebuilt it across the Thames River n This theater became known as the Globe theater (1599)

The 1 st Globe Theater… n 1599 -1613 n 8 -12 shareholders (William Shakespeare was one) n The hut was the highest part of the stage n There were 4 sections for the purpose of sound effects n The heavens were part of the stage with a trap door that went up to the hut where objects could be hung, like angels

The 1 st Globe Theater… n The gallery was above the stage used for a balcony or battle scenes n The tiring house was the backstage area where costumes and props were stored and for actors to get ready. n The side gallery was for musicians n Costumes were very important to theater; there was a major fine if an actor left theater with a costume n Not very elaborate scenery, just elaborate costumes n Lit by candlelight and only held 800 people

Play History… n Weather was important (outdoor plays) n Galleries were for the rich people n Women never went alone to theater; it was a sign of respect n flags symbolized a play (red: history, black: tragedy, white: comedy) n Trumpets signaled the start of a play

Play History… n Groundlings were poor and sat on the floor n Boys played girl parts in plays n On June, 29, 1613 the Globe theater was burned down while performing a play about King Henry VIII (cannon) n Globe theater rebuilt in 1614 ; it wasn’t as popular but it was more modern (tile roof, plaster, brick foundation, etc. )

Play History… n Globe theater torn down in 1644 by Puritans (people that rejected Catholicism and the Church of England followed Elizabethan Religious Settlement) n Third Globe theater restored on site ; this one held 2000 -3000 people

Shakespeare!

Shakespeare! n Born approximately April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-the-Avon n No record of exact date, but can guess due to baptism n Upper-middleclass family n Father was a glovemaker and mayor for a period of time n Lived during the Elizabethan Era n Queen Elizabeth was queen – protestant unmarried woman who loved the arts and made England one of the most powerful countries in Europe

Shakespeare! n 1582 : married Anne Hathaway who was 8 years older than him; very scandalous for the time (He was 18, she was 26). n He left London at 18 years old and never came back to the family n 1583: had their first daughter, Suzanna n 1585: had twins, Hamnet and Judith

Shakespeare! n Wrote at least 37 plays n 1594 -1595: Wrote Romeo and Juliet ; n not original script ; probably taken from Italian writer named Arthur Brooke (The Tragedy of Romeus and Juliet) n Wrote almost 2 plays a year ; one comedy and one tragedy n Genius n Retired rich

Shakespeare! n Owned part of the Globe theater n The 10 men that owned the Globe were called the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men”