A time associated with Queen Elizabeth’s reign from Golden age in England's history Height of the English Renaissance – poetry, music, literature, and theatre flourished William Shakespeare and many others broke free of past style of theatre and arts A period of peace in England

Life expectancy: 35 years Primary course of study: Latin Plato’s chain of being: Gods Kings Nobles Craftsmen Peasants Women

Blood sports were popular (bear or bull baiting) Fencing/jousting was also a common source of entertainment Team sports became more popular - football, hurling, and soccer Hunting was a great source of sport Theatre was an important source of entertainment

1558: Elizabeth I becomes queen at age : Shakespeare is born (Stratford- upon-Avon) 1582: at age of 18, Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway (who was 26) : has three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith 1587: Virginia Dare – first English-born child born in America 1594: Shakespeare is leading member of Lord Chamberlain’s Company Timeline

1534: Henry VIII recognized as Supreme Head of Church of England: Separated The Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church Private life greatly influenced English political history Wanted an heir Died 1547 Timeline

1594: Taming of the Shrew 1600: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, R & J 1607: English settlement at Jamestown 1611: The Tempest 1616: Shakespeare dies; buried at Holy Trinity Church 1623: Shakespeare’s widow, and his last surviving descendent, Elizabeth Hall, dies 1623: The First Folio: originally titled “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies” Timeline

Shakespeare’s epitaph

English poet and playwright – greatest writer of the English language The “Bard of Avon” Plays have been translated into every major language and performed more than any other playwright Early plays were comedies and histories and later ones were tragedies Penned 37 plays – all written in iambic pentameter Penned 150 short poem—most of which were sonnets

ONE THEORY: Shakespeare was just a front to shield the identity of the real author(s) who for some reason did not want credit: Scholars speculate that Shakespeare lacked the “education, aristocratic sensibility, and familiarity with the royal court” to be able to write such works of literature

SECOND THEORY: EDWARD DE VERE: 17 th Earl of Oxford Elizabethan courtier, playwright, lyric poet, sportsman and patron of the arts – most popular alternative candidate proposed for the authorship of Shakespeare’s works

Built in 1599 in London by Shakespeare’s playing company: Lord Chamberlain’s Men Destroyed by fire on June 29, 1613 while performing Shakespeare’s Henry the Eighth Rebuilt on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642 by the Puritans The Globe Theatre

All performances, weather permitting, were performed during the day (no lighting) Open air theatre resulted in poor acoustics, so performers had to shout and exaggerate gestures The Globe Theatre

Performances were geared toward the uneducated masses – much focus on sexual innuendo, bodily functions, and slapstick (low comedy at its finest) The Globe Theatre

A Globe Theatre Performance

The Globe Theatre Layout Three story, open-air amphitheatre that held up to 3,000 spectators At base of stage was “the pit” — “groundlings” paid a penny and stood on straw to watch the performances

The Globe Theatre Layout Vertically around the yard: three levels of stadium-style seats (more expensive seating) These were ‘two-penny’ seats and were partially covered

The Globe Theatre Layout Flag was flown on day of performance: different colors for different genres: comedy, tragedy, history ALL characters played by MEN (often women played by young boys)

The Stage of the Globe Theatre Rectangular platform known as an ‘apron stage’ Trap door for performers to use to enter from the ‘cellarage’ Two to three doors at the rear of the stage where performers waited in costume Balcony housed musicians

Layout of The Globe

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts... ~ from Shakespeare’s As You Like It