1. William Shakespeare “All the world 's a stage, /
And all the men and women
merely players.”——

2. Well-known Facts about Will
Great writer of England
Plays translated into all languages, musicals, ballets
Born Stratford-upon-Avon, (April 23rd? 1564)
Well-to-do, affluent while alive
Most quoted, other than the Bible
Learned Latin in school
And attended school 9 hours a day

3. Shakespeare wrote for and performed with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
This group often performed for royalty and later became known as the King’s Men.
Father was a glove-maker and served as mayor
Mother was Mary Arden

4. Lesser-known Facts
Teen father: married pregnant 26 year old Anne Hathaway when he was 18
Deadbeat dad: Left wife and children for London stage career
Father of twins, Judith and Hamnet. And daughter Susanna
Elizabethan rapper: uses rhythm and rhyme
“Plagiarism” ?
Died on his birthday at 52 and was buried in Stratford Holy Trinity Church.

5. Shakespeare’s Epitaph
Good Friend, for Jesus’sake forbear.
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spare these stones.
And Cursed be he that moves my bones.

6. The Competition Bear-baiting Races Gambling Music Drinking/socializing
Prostitution
Public executions

7. Conditions in London-BAD!
Thames River polluted with raw sewage- could have led to bubonic plague.
Trees used up for fuel
Poverty
Actors held in low regard

8. Personal hygiene/health
Bathing considered dangerous
Body odor strong
Childhood diseases
Children often died before 5 years
Small Pox
Bubonic Plague- led to closing of theaters for two years.

9. Living Conditions
No running water
Chamber Pots
Open Sewers
Crowded
                  

10. Clothes One set used all year long, rarely washed
Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed
Clothes handed down from rich to poor

11. Theater in London Performed in courtyards of inns
The Theater-first public theater-1576
Daytime/open air
Limited set design
Relied on music, sound, costumes, props and great description
The first theater to be constructed was “The Theater

12. As a play was about to begin trumpets would sound as the first actor delivered the prologue.
At the end of each play, no matter how sad, the stage would be filled with singers, acrobats, and tumblers for the grand finale.
Theaters were located in the suburbs called “liberties”. Thieves, pickpockets, and scoundrels liked to hang out in these areas.

13. The Globe Built in 1599 Across the Thames- “Wrong side of town”
King’s Players - Shakespeare’s company
Perfomances in afternoon because of lighting
Refferred as“The Wooden-O” in Henry V.

14. The Globe
The white flag meant there would be a play that day. The color of
The flag indicated the type of play being performed. Ex. Red was
history

15. The Globe- parts Three main parts The Proper
Building proper
The stage
The tiring house (backstage house)
The Proper
Three story wooden structure.
16 sided polygon (wooden O)

16. The Stage
Jutted halfway into the yard so actors were in closer contact with audience
Trap doors under stage
Ceiling was painted with suns, moons and stars,with trap door
Tiring House
2-story back drop for stage
Included balcony, tower, and city wall scenes
Scenery not abundant. When actor carried lantern, audience knew it was night

17. Props were abundant.
Interiors painted brightly
Costumes were elaborate
Galleries
Three covered seating sections
Costs more
Entrance- “gatherers” stood at entrance to collect pennies. Patrons put pennies into a box, hence the term “box office”

18. Actors All men Female parts played by young boys
No actual kissing or hugging on stage

19. The groundling Poor audience member Stood around stage in “the pit”
Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend)
Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances
Penny
drank beer and played cards, shouted at actors, also called “Penny Skinkards”
Spread epidemics and plagues

20. Queen Elizabeth Bastard daughter of King Henry VIII
And Ann Boleyn (2nd of 6 wives)
Henry had Ann beheaded for “treason”
Younger sister of “Bloody Mary.”

21. The Renaissance 1500-1650 “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science
Discovery of “New World”
Copernicus: Sun-centered Universe (1543)
King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal)
Reformation of Catholic Church
Actors were held in very low regard until Queen Elizabeth began to support them.

22. Have you heard these phrases?
He was dead as a doornail.
She’s a tower of strength.
They hoodwinked us.
I couldn’t sleep a wink.
I’m green-eyed with jealousy.
We’d better lie low for awhile.
Keep a civil tongue in your head.