English Renaissance Theatre 1485 - 1625

Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603 The Golden Age of England Theatre flourished Playwriting becomes a viable and more respected profession Professional actors gain popularity Acting companies form, sponsored by royal and/or noble patrons One of the most creative periods in all of history

Elizabethan Theatre Actors Performances develop into entertainment rather than celebration so an actor can support himself by acting All actors were men – women are not allowed on stage Actors still considered vagrants must be “sponsored” by a patron, actors are the patron's servants Acting companies must be licensed by the crown Public performances were outlawed within the city limits so a theatre community builds on the “South Bank”

Playwrights Christopher Marlowe 1574 – 1637 Tamburlaine (c.1587) The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (c.1589) The Jew of Malta (c.1589) Wrote for The Admiral’s Men Possibly an atheist, possibly a spy for England Was he also Shakespeare?

Playwrights Ben Johnson 1572 – 1637 A Tale of a Tub (c.1596) Volpone (c.1605-6) Also wrote masques for James’ court (acted by courtiers, not actors) Acted (poorly) & wrote for The Admiral’s Men Poet & playwright

Playwrights Thomas Kyd 1558-1594 The Spanish Tragedie (c. 1585) May have written a version of Hamlet before Shakespeare did!!! arrested as a heretic in 1593

William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616 actor, poet, playwright

Shakespeare’s Life Ophelia (detail). By John Everett Millais, 1851–52. Born: 23 April 1564 (estimated based on baptism records), Stratford-upon-Avon Education: Free Stratford Grammar School Good base in Latin & the Classics (Terence, Platus, etc.) that he would liberally borrow from for his plots later Married Anne Hathaway (he’s 18, she’s 26) 3 kids: Susanna, and twins Hamnet & Judith The Lord Chamberlain’s Men Actor first Later becomes “resident” playwright Buys into his own acting company 1603 – they become the King’s Men under James I Death: 23 April 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon Ophelia (detail). By John Everett Millais, 1851–52.

Shakespeare’s Work POET = wrote 154 sonnets & 2+ narrative poems Prose Blank verse Iambic pentameter ACTOR = starts with Lord Admiral’s Men as an actor, then begins writing PLAYWRIGHT 36 plays published in the First Folio (1623) 3 categories: history, tragedy, comedy Sources: Terence, Petrarch, Holinshed's Chronicles

Shakespeare’s Plays Tragedies to know: Comedies to know: Romeo & Juliet Hamlet Macbeth Othello (1st specifically black role!!!) Comedies to know: A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Tempest Histories to know: Henry VI (3 parts) Richard III Titus Andronicus

Elizabethan Conventions Costumes Actors wore clothes of the day regardless of the time period of the play **exception: plays set in Greece & Rome!

Elizabethan Conventions Set & Props Very little of either used… That’s why you get so many declarative lines in Elizabethan plays. “I die” “Is this poison?”

Theatres Pre Renaissance = travelling pageant wagons, in noblemen’s ballrooms or halls 1576 – James Burbage builds “The Theatre” (1st permanent performance space) on the South Bank

Elizabethan Conventions The Theatres Standard characteristics: Open air - usually round - Thrust stage - no lights Terms to know: Galleries Pit Groundling (Penny-stinker) Heavens Hell Hut Inner stage