Classical Theatre History A Journey Through Time The Elizabethan Era

1. Classical Theatre History A Journey Through Time The Elizabethan Era By Margaret Foland AET 541 Dawn R. Tittle

2. Introductions to the Elizabethan Era • Week 5 – England as a World Power • This lesson will focus on the reign of Elizabeth I of England, how her political strengths allowed England to develop into a world power. • It will also focus on the theatre of this time, the end of Biblical Drama and beginning of the new drama. • Finally we will look at the theatre – what did it look like, how where performances stage, and who were the players, playwrights, and sponsors of the arts.

3. History of England • Henry VIII reins 1509-1547 • Edward reins 1547-1551 • Mary I reins 1551-1558 • Elizabeth I reins 1558-1603 • Inventions for theatre – some had been developed • Elizabeth I 1558 – 1603 • Biblical Drama ends • Privateers (navy) • Pirates – like Reighly and Francis Drake • After defeat 1588, wave of nationalism • Celebrated by being part of God’s World • Law – before defeat of Armada, but after defeat of nationalism • Head of Church of England under Queen – monarch, nationalism inspired • Absolute height of optimism and exuberance • The Golden Age of England • London – teaming with people • Homes built out of wood, frequent fires • Plagues – small pox, people wore make – up to cover up pock marks on the face • White face – did not get much sun people wore wealth

4. England’s History Cont’d • If you get sun – you worked in it, no attention paid • Lacy, diamond, pearl – sewed into dress • 2 suits – remarkably rich persons – 1 or 2 shirts • Some wore under garments some did not • Wore jerkins and hose • Shoes like puritans wore • The Elizabethan Renaissance 1485-1642 • War of the Roses 1455 – 1485 • Accession of Henry VII 1485-1509 • Henry VIII 1509-1547 • Henry VIII • Good politician • Good writer • First wife – Catherine of Aragon • Second wife – Anne Boleyn • Third Wife – Jane Seymour • Chidren • Mary I – 1551- 1558 • Edward I 1547- 1551 • Elizabeth I – 1558 - 1603 • Elizabeth I • Ruled England by herself • Very good rule • Loved the arts • Good writer and politician – took after her father

5. Discussion Questions • When did biblical drama end in England? • What were the names of the all the wives of Henry VIII? • How long did the reigns of Edward I, Mary I, and Elizabeth I last? • Who took the throne of England after the death of Elizabeth?

6. The Elizabethan Theatre • Constantly needed to write, rehearse, and memorize lines and ready to perform • 10 performances was praised and revised • Some may have been rewritten by other playwrights for other theatres – written better • Kyde – Harinmo is mad again – Spanish Tragedy • Shakespeare rewrote it or borrowed it and wrote Hamlet • Groundlings in capable of joys – according to Shakespeare (crowd as many theatres if play was popular) • Puritans – people went to buy things from maids – buy a piece of fruit – went up to the top level to have sex (peel the orange) • Yet another reason to have people gather – medieval man – illiterate • Only people who needed to write was the playwright • Roles and type casting • Young boys played girls • Experienced actors play old women • No women actress allowed on English stages until the Restoration • Theatre made money in the age of Shakespeare • The wooden ode

7. The Stage format • Groundlings – standing room by the stage • 90’ outer diameter • Yard 66’ • Boxes (Gent’s Rooms) and 3 tiers of galleries • Raised, trapped trestle stage, could be moved • 15’ D x 40’ W upstage, and 16’ D x 36’ W downstage • 3 sided – thrust stage, audience on 3 sides of stage • May have had music forques / reaction

8. Plays and Playwrights • Christopher Marlowe 1564-1593 • William Shakespeare 1546-1616 • Ben Johnson • John Webster • Plays dealt with important social issues • The mighty line • Iambic pentameter • Killed when he was 29 • Mixed original plots • Episodic plots • Early point of attack • Chronological order • Short scene mixing comedy and seriousness • Time and place shift rapidly • Locale and other information depends on playwright • “A machine for acting” • Marlowe – Shakespeare Theory • Purported portrait of Shakespeare resembling that of Christopher Marlowe as a young man • (Marlowe – Shakespeare theory starts from here) • Or is this Shakespeare – as a London young man – newly discovered portrait of Shakespeare

9. Actors of the Elizabethan Era • Marlowe’s Troupe • Thomas Kyde 1557-1595 • John Lyly • George Peele • Thomas Nasha • Lord Admirals’ Men • Ned Alleyn • Kings Men, before Lord Chamberlain’s men • Richard Burbage • Philip Henslowe • William Shakespeare • Edward Alleyn

10. Video Clips of Shakespearean proportions • http://youtu.be/aE2cr-fIvBA • http://youtu.be/QTM0wW2SNlU • http://youtu.be/kOHM7DhqTpE • http://youtu.be/YWdTyIRemcE • Shakespeare and Marlowe video clips • http://youtu.be/07R6KbaU85A • http://youtu.be/PK-5TeQAeM8 • http://youtu.be/xYZHb2xo0OI

11. Discussion Questions • What did the Globe Theatre look like? • Who was Christopher Marlowe? • Who were the Kings Men? • What plays did Marlowe write? • What plays did Shakespeare write? • Who was responsible for the publication of Shakespeare’s plays – this is in the text? • Who sponsored the theatre? • When did the state take over – state sponsored theatre?

12. References • Elizabeth I, of England. (2011). Retrieved from http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/ • The Globe Theatre. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mswrede0708.wikispaces.com/file/view/images.jpg/31251719/images.jpg • William Shakespeare. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/07/03/great-shakes-115875-21490827/ • Wilson, E., & Goldfarb, A. (2008). History of the Theatre: Living Theatre (5th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw Hill.