William Shakespeare & Theater Background Notes

William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright in history William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright in history. He never gave an interview or wrote an autobiography, so we have very little first-hand information about him.

Church records show Shakespeare was baptized on 26 April, 1564 Born: 1564 Church records show Shakespeare was baptized on 26 April, 1564 Custom was to baptize babies on the 3rd day after birth. (so we assume he was born on 23 April). Died 23 April, 1616 (on his birthday, age 52)

Shakespeare’s father was an important person in Stratford-upon-Avon a glove maker and grain dealer at one time—mayor

Shakespeare’s education Education – grammar school. (Would have learned Latin) Why is this important? Because Shakespeare had only a basic education—he didn’t go to university—and yet he wrote poems and plays that have been read, watched, and studied for 400 years.

Family Life 1583 – age 18 – married Anne Hathaway (she was 26) 3 children – Susannah (1583); twins – Hamnet and Judith (1585) Hamnet died in 1596 (age 11) of the Bubonic Plague Susannah had a daughter named Elizabeth, who had no children Judith had 3 sons, all of whom died by the age of 21 Shakespeare’s line of direct descendants died out with his 4 grandchildren

Between 1585 – 1591 – Shakespeare moved to London. Became an actor and playwright Became one of the chief stockholders in the most important theatre company of the time – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men Became part-owner of the Globe theatre Bought a coat of arms, giving himself the official status of gentleman Returned to Stratford to live in 1612 (unknown why)

Rulers of the time Elizabeth I (1558-1603) – period called the Elizabethan period James I (1603-1625) – was first to be ruler of both England and Scotland. Mother was Mary, Queen of Scots James I became the patron of Shakespeare’s acting company; name was changed to The King’s Men.

Shakespeare’s London Population was about 200,000 Goods were imported from many foreign countries Newspapers were “broadsides”—1 page sheets printed on both sides. Reported news (especially murders, fires, deaths of important people, disasters). Sold for ½ penny on almost all street corners. London was a noisy place. People and shops everywhere (even on the bridges)

Entertainment of the Time water games on the Thames zoo in the Tower of London cock (rooster) fights bear baitings public executions plays

Shakespeare’s Theatre Inn-yards were popular as makeshift theatres. They were long and narrow, with seating around the balconies. Theatres were built outside the city walls to pacify the Puritans (across the Thames in Bankside). The basic architecture was similar to inn-yards. Performances usually started around 2:00 p.m. (no electricity = no lights!)

ALL actors were male. All women’s roles were played by boys or young men. Fight scenes—actors had to be expert swordsmen. Needed technical skills and training along with excellent physical conditioning. Audiences expected bloody deaths and mutilations (but actors still had to perform the next day!)—used sheep’s blood for special effects. Often was a great deal of interaction between audience and actors. Sometimes audiences became quite violent. (Young men often sat around the edges of the stage—got involved in sword fights.)

The Globe Theatre (Shakespeare’s Theatre) Built in 1599. Octagonal shape with thrust stage (audience surrounded the actors on 3 sides) 3 levels of balconies; open pit in the middle floor of stage had a trapdoor Burned down in 1613 (thatched roof caught fire when a cannon was fired during a performance); rebuilt in 1614, but demolished in 1644 by the Puritans Has now been rebuilt near the site of the original theatre. Spent years researching building techniques and materials from Shakespeare’s time to re-create the building as accurately as possible. Has a thatched roof again, but now is fire-proof (by London fire laws).

Audiences in the Public Theatres Audiences were noisy, boisterous, rough Groundlings – stood on the ground (cheapest admission) People with money sat on benches in the balconies (cost more to sit up higher) Some rented stools on the stage. Nobility usually arranged to have plays performed in their own homes