Elizabethan Times |
The Globe Theatre
In 1599, the famous Globe Theatre was built. Referred to by Shakespeare as a "wooden O", the Globe could hold up to 3 000 spectators, and had as many as 20 sides.
The Globe Theatre had tiered stages, hidden doors, and unusual construction.
The Globe Theatre had tiered stages, hidden doors, and unusual construction.
The Building
The "Heavens" - ceilling over the stage that
protected the actors from too much sun or rain. It also represented the sky and heavens and was painted blue with golden stars. Actors who played angels or spirits descended from the hut on top of this "roof" to the main stage. The hut was also used for storage and additional sound effects such as alarm bells, cannon fire, and thunder. Tiring House - dressing and storage rooms. Actors rested here between scenes and changed into lavish costumes. All large props were stored here. The doors to the tiring house also served as actors' main entrances and exists. Upper Stage - this "chamber" was used for most bedroom and balcony scenes. |
Galleries - three covered seating sections. Audiences paid more to sit on these tiered wooden benches under a
thatched roof to keep out of the sun and rain. For an additional penny, a patron could borrow a cushion
to sit on.
Main Stage - where the main action of the play took place, especially outdoor scenes of battlefields, forests, or
cityscapes. Il was often called an "apron" stage because audiences could sit around all three sides. For a
large fee, patrons could sometimes sit up on the stage next to the actors.
Inner Stage - this stage was used mostly for indoor scenes. It had a curtain that could be opened and closed for
scene changes.
Open Yard - audiences paid one penny to stand here and watch the performance, rain or shine. Often these
patrons, or groundlings, would participate in the play by cheering, shouting, or throwing snacks at the
actors.
Support Pillars - these wooden pillars supported the roof and were painted to look like marble. Actors used
these pillars to hide on the main stage and observe other characters while speaking in "asides" to the
audience.
Trap Door - actors playing ghosts or witches could rise or descend through this door built into the main stage.
This was referred to as "hell".
Entrance - "gatherers" stood at the single entrance to collect one penny from each patron per performance.
Patrons put their pennies into a box, hence the term "box office". It took audiences at least half an
hour to file into the theatre.
Brick Foundation - the Globe's foundation needed to be constructed of brick, as it was built on wet, marshy
land close to the Thames River.
Flag - signified which type of play was being performed - black for tragedy, white or blue for comedy, and
red for history. A dark flag indicated a night scene and a light flag for a day scene.
thatched roof to keep out of the sun and rain. For an additional penny, a patron could borrow a cushion
to sit on.
Main Stage - where the main action of the play took place, especially outdoor scenes of battlefields, forests, or
cityscapes. Il was often called an "apron" stage because audiences could sit around all three sides. For a
large fee, patrons could sometimes sit up on the stage next to the actors.
Inner Stage - this stage was used mostly for indoor scenes. It had a curtain that could be opened and closed for
scene changes.
Open Yard - audiences paid one penny to stand here and watch the performance, rain or shine. Often these
patrons, or groundlings, would participate in the play by cheering, shouting, or throwing snacks at the
actors.
Support Pillars - these wooden pillars supported the roof and were painted to look like marble. Actors used
these pillars to hide on the main stage and observe other characters while speaking in "asides" to the
audience.
Trap Door - actors playing ghosts or witches could rise or descend through this door built into the main stage.
This was referred to as "hell".
Entrance - "gatherers" stood at the single entrance to collect one penny from each patron per performance.
Patrons put their pennies into a box, hence the term "box office". It took audiences at least half an
hour to file into the theatre.
Brick Foundation - the Globe's foundation needed to be constructed of brick, as it was built on wet, marshy
land close to the Thames River.
Flag - signified which type of play was being performed - black for tragedy, white or blue for comedy, and
red for history. A dark flag indicated a night scene and a light flag for a day scene.
A Typical Performance
The audience members were loud and boisterous, quite different from our modern observations of theatre-going etiquette.
Merchants would trade their goods openly during the show.
Audience members were ACTIVE participants, involved in the watching of the performance; they would cry out in glee, or yell in disapproval to the antagosists.
What we might now consider a hecklet would have been considered "an active participant" at the Globe.
Merchants would trade their goods openly during the show.
Audience members were ACTIVE participants, involved in the watching of the performance; they would cry out in glee, or yell in disapproval to the antagosists.
What we might now consider a hecklet would have been considered "an active participant" at the Globe.
Stagecraft
The Globe actors were traveling actors. They kept the props and costumes to a minimum.
Shakespeare's motto was: "The play's the thing!"
* This means that the poetry of the language and the universal qualities of the plot were more important than the details of staging.
- Actors were challenged to bring the story to life, often with minimal props and set pieces to assist audiences in the visualizing of the play.
(Any part of the stage could represent any location at any time.)
Shakespeare's motto was: "The play's the thing!"
* This means that the poetry of the language and the universal qualities of the plot were more important than the details of staging.
- Actors were challenged to bring the story to life, often with minimal props and set pieces to assist audiences in the visualizing of the play.
(Any part of the stage could represent any location at any time.)