Elizabethan Theatre (WJEC Eduqas GCSE History): Revision Note

What was the theatre like before the Elizabethan period? - Summary 

Before the Elizabethan period, theatre in England was a basic and simple form of entertainment. Wandering bands of actors would travel and perform in local towns. Actors were often viewed with suspicion and considered lower-class and untrustworthy. Consequently, strolling players lacked the social respect and recognition they would later have. 

Theatres before the Elizabethan period were typically held in makeshift venues such as inns, courtyards, open fields, or temporary stages. Permanent theatres did not exist before the Elizabethan period. Strolling players moved from town to town, performing wherever they could attract an audience. However, wealthier Tudors would sometimes have private showings of plays in their homes. 

Pre-Elizabethan plays were mainly religious tales or simple farces. A popular play was Robin Hood; however, due to the key theme of this play, authorities soon called for it to be banned. It was not until the Elizabethan era, with the creation of permanent theatres like The Globe and the rise of influential playwrights like William Shakespeare, that theatre began to gain prominence and respectability in English society.

Elizabethan Theatre 

• Theatre became increasingly popular during Elizabeth's reign

  • England had no theatres in 1555

  • Many local authorities blocked the building of theatres because travelling actors impacted law and order, and a fear of spreading disease

• In 1572, a law was passed banning strolling players from touring unless they had a licence 

  • Licences were given to strolling players by the Lord Chamberlain  

• As a result, wealthier Elizabethans, known as patrons, decided to support actors

• They built theatres where the troupes could perform their plays

  • Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, gave financial and legal support to actors in London

    • He owned a theatre company called Leicester's Men in 1559

  • Elizabeth established The Queen's Men in 1583

    • Elizabeth did not attend the theatre herself

    • Theatre companies would perform plays for her in the royal court

  • Lord Chamberlain’s Men was established in 1594 

    • William Shakespeare wrote for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theatre company 

• From 1567, London allowed the building of theatres

  • The first purpose-built theatre was built by James Burbage, called ‘The Theatre’ in Shoreditch in 1576

  • Other prominent Elizabethan theatres include 

    • The Rose (1587)

    • The Swan (1594)

    • The Globe (1599)

Theatre Design 

• The first theatres built tended to have 

  • A thatched roof

    • To protect the actors and the wealthy people from the poor weather  

  • A raised stage

    • Below the stage was hell, and actors used a trap door when necessary 

  • A canopy above the stage, which represented heaven 

  • An open space in the middle of the theatre 

    • Where the poorer people would stand and watch the plays 

  • A flag or a cannon to inform people when the play was about to begin 

• Theatres were also 

  • Round or octagonal in shape 

  • Decorated with bright colours and painted oak pillars to look like marble 

• The prices of theatre tickets were intentionally low 

  • This allowed everyone to go to the theatre

Elizabethan Plays 

Playwrights

• New plays were written regularly to keep up with the demand 

• Some of the most famous playwrights at the time included: 

  • Christopher Marlowe 

    • Marlowe developed the ‘tragedy’ play 

    • His most famous play was called Doctor Faustus (c.1589) 

  • Thomas Dekker 

    • Dekker wrote many ‘comedies’ 

    • His most famous play was Shoemaker’s Holiday (1599)

  • Thomas Kyd 

    • He developed the ‘revenge tragedy’ 

    • Kyd’s most famous play is Spanish Tragedy (c.1585) 

  • William Shakespeare 

    • Shakespeare was the most popular playwright of the time 

    • He wrote 37 plays, including comedies, tragedies and historical dramas 

    • He wrote plays which were popular with Queen Elizabeth I

    • Some of Shakespeare's most famous plays were Richard II (1595), Romeo and Juliet (1595), and The Tempest (1611)

Actors 

• Only men and boys were allowed to act in plays 

  • Men would play the role of women 

  • They would play several different roles in one play 

  • They were expected to 

    • Dance 

    • Sing 

    • Act

    • Play musical instruments 

• Some of the most famous actors at the time included:

  • Richard Burdage

    • He played the leading actor in many of William Shakespeare’s plays 

    • Was a part-owner of The Globe theatre 

• Edward Alleyn 

  • He played the leading actor in many of Christopher Marlowe’s plays 

  • He was the co-owner of The Fortune Theatre 

• Thomas Pope

  • He was a member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Attitudes to the theatre 

• Elizabethan theatre became very popular

  • In 1595, historians estimate that 15,000 people attended the theatre each week

• Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed watching plays

  • Elizabeth watched the first performance of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare 

• All members of society would attend the theatre 

  • It became an important part of the social calendar for the nobility 

  • The lower classes would drink and eat as they watched the plays 

• Audiences enjoyed the storylines and characters

• However, there was also a lot of opposition towards the theatre because: 

  • Large crowds attracted crime 

    • Including pickpocketing 

  • Puritans considered the theatre to be the world of the devil 

    • It tempted people to be sinful 

    • Plays were seen as rude and boisterous  

  • Theatres were seen as unhygienic 

    • Large crowds allowed for disease to spread easily 

  • Prostitutes were often present in the crowd during plays, looking for work