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

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

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

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

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

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

The 1st Globe Theater… 1599-1613 8-12 shareholders (William Shakespeare was one) The hut was the highest part of the stage There were 4 sections for the purpose of sound effects 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 1st Globe Theater… The gallery was above the stage used for a balcony or battle scenes The tiring house was the backstage area where costumes and props were stored and for actors to get ready. The side gallery was for musicians Costumes were very important to the theater; there was a major fine if an actor left the theater with a costume Not very elaborate scenery, just elaborate costumes Lit by candlelight and only held 800 people

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

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

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

Shakespeare!

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

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

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

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