Globe Theater

Directions: Take Cornell Notes Headings Specific Information and pictures. Headings Specific Information and pictures. *Write down the definitions of new words and highlight them.

Miniature Model of The Globe

The Globe 1599 - 1613

The Globe Specs total capacity of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators no lighting performances at the Globe were conducted, weather permitting, during the day (probably most often in the mid-afternoon span between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.) Because most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air, acoustics were poor and the actors were compelled by circumstances to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures.

Specs cont. Costumes and props were utilized; however, there were no backgrounds or scenery. Scene changes were indicated explicitly or implicitly in the speeches and narrative situations that Shakespeare wrote into the text of the plays. The playhouse did not have curtains. Actors had to change their costumes backstage.

Specs continued The Globe Theater was the most sophisticated theater in England during this period. The Globe company used massive props like fully working canons, although it would of course had to be left on stage for the entire performance of the play.  The Globe company used special effects: smoke effects, the firing of a real canon, fireworks (for dramatic battle scenes) and spectacular 'flying' entrances. The stage floor had trap-doors allowing for additional surprising incidents. Music was another addition to the Globe productions. It was no wonder that the Globe Theater and this form of Elizabethan entertainment was so popular.

Stage

Shakespearean Advertising ! Towering above the Globe was a small tower with a flag pole. Flags were used as a form of Elizabethan Advertising! Flags were erected on the day of the performance which sometimes displayed a picture advertising the next play to be performed. Color coding was also used - a black flag meant a tragedy, white a comedy, and red a history. 

Theater Politics The government of the Elizabethan Times did not approve of the theater. The law prohibited theaters from being in London. Even though attending the theater was a bit out of the way for London folk, high-status as well as low life spectators were welcome.

Theater Politics Elizabethan theater and the acting companies that animated it were looked at as evil by at least some conservative elements in England. The acting profession was considered a precarious way. Most stage players were vulnerable to arrest on charges of vagrancy (homeless) if they were not under the protection of a powerful sponsor.

Theater Politics Globe Theatre stood until June 29, 1613, when its thatched (straw) roof was set ablaze by a cannon fired in a performance of Henry VIII and the Globe burned to the ground. The Globe was reconstructed in 1614. In 1642, England’s government closed down all of the country's theaters. Two years later, Cromwell's round heads tore down the Globe, leveled the site and constructed tenement (large apartment building) housing upon it.

Actors Young boys played the parts of main female protagonist like Juliet. A young boy dressed in a 17th century lady’s dress.

It was against English law to dress in clothing that was outside of your class. For example, peasants must wear peasant clothes they cannot dress up like a princess. However, actors could wear the clothes of Kings, Queens, Noblemen, and Noblewomen. Actors

Actors Richard Burbage Burbage was one of the great tragic actors of his day and the roles of Hamlet, Othello and Lear were probably written for him.

Actors Will Kemp As an actor, Kempe is certainly associated with two roles: Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Peter in Romeo and Juliet.

Actors William Sly It is believed that he took youthful, romantic or soldierly parts such as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Laertes in Hamlet or Hotspur in Henry IV

Actors We mustn’t forget William Shakespeare. Not only was Shakespeare a playwright, he also acted in many of his plays. It is also assumed that Shakespeare played smaller roles in a variety of his own plays, including Adam in As You Like It, King Duncan in Macbeth, King Henry in Henry IV, and Hamlet’s father in Hamlet.

Plays and Propaganda Initially, plays were used as a vehicle for propaganda. They would make fun of political and religious groups. Queen Elizabeth, ever concerned about her popularity with the people, realized that although it would be important to enforce some regulations that it would be foolhardy to apply too many restrictions. Otherwise, she may become a target for ridicule.

Box Office Globe audiences had to put one penny in a box by the door which would pay for a view of the play by standing on the ground, in front of the stage. These people were called “groundlings”. “Groundlings” consisted of house servants, unskilled workers, and unemployed people. These people would sit/stand, talk, throw food, etc, while the play was being performed.

Box Office To sit on the first gallery would cost another penny in the box which was held by a collector on the front of the stairs. Skilled artisans, high-ranking landowners, merchants and military officers were seated here. To sit on the second gallery, you put another penny in the box held by the man at the second flight of stairs. Aristocrats, ladies of the court, and nobles sat in this area.

Box Office Then when the show started, the men went and put the boxes in a room backstage. Profits there were shared between members of the Globe company as such and the owners of the theatre. Shakespeare received approximately 10% of the profit for writing the plays.

The Theater’s Reputation Elite society looked down on attending the theater; therefore, upper class man and women would wear a mask to disguise their identity. The subject matter of the plays would often be vulgar and sexual. The behavior of some of the audience was highly inappropriate! The theatres didn’t just show plays. Some also served as a brothel and gambling house when plays were not being performed. Crime increased at the theaters and following the performances the crowds were noisy and unruly. The vast crowds and the popularity of the London Theaters needed some additional controls.

Popularity Days out at the Globe Theater would have been an exciting event. The grounds surrounding the Globe Theater would have been bustling with people. There would be stalls selling merchandise and refreshments creating a market day atmosphere. Common refreshments were hazelnuts, beer, water, gingerbread, apples, and oranges; all of which were occasionally thrown at the actors onstage. Young people would often avoid going to work in order to go to the theater.

Popularity Plays were big!! There was money to be made!! There was a constant demand for new material!! Rivalry between the Theatres Playhouses was enormous!! As soon as a play had been written it was immediately produced - printing followed productions! (Printing back then meant copying the text by hand over and over again.)

First Clip If the video doesn’t play go to the Hamlet folder and play the clip titled: The Globe_5.avi *If you start the clip at 3 min. you will skip some unnecessary information

Second Clip If the video doesn’t play go to the Hamlet folder and play the clip titled: Shakespeare A Life and Times_4.avi * Start the clip at the beginning, but you can skip through starting at minute 3:00 and fast forward to minute 4:00. (Unnecessary part about Francis Bacon being a potential candidate for writing Shakespeare’s plays.)