globe theatre “the wooden o”. 1576 – james burbage built the first english theatre
TRANSCRIPT
Globe Theatre“The Wooden O”
• 1576 – James Burbage built the first English theatre
• 1598 – Landowners would not renew the lease – theatre was dismantled and rebuilt across the Thames River
• 1599 – The theatre was rebuilt and named The Globe Theatre
• Shakespeare performed most of his plays at the Globe and owned 10% of the theatre.
• Prices to attend the theatre range from 1 penny to 1 shilling (12 cents).
• Prices were double on the first performance.
• Performances began around 2:00-3:00 P.M. after lunch but while the sun was still bright.
• Plays were announced by a flag being raised on top of the theatre. A white flag indicated a comedy and a black flag signaled a tragedy
• 3 trumpet blasts signaled that the play was beginning.
• All kinds of people came to the plays: nobility, merchant class, apprentices, thieves, beggars, etc.
• Merchants sold their goods during the performances.
• Average weekly attendance to the theatre was 20,000 people.
• The Globe Theatre was round and could seat 2,000 people.
• The stage was 5 ½ feet high—this kept the audience from jumping on the stage.
• Groundlings- stood on the ground in front of the stage– their admission price was one penny- known as the “penny public”.
• The stage had three areas of acting:
1. outer stage
2. middle stage
3. inner stage
•The ceiling of the stage areas was known as the “Heavens” and was painted with signs of the zodiac: sun, moon, stars etc.
• Under the stage’s trap door was an area known as “Hell” used for special effects such as ghosts coming and going.
•Plays were free of interruption: no curtains or scenery.
• Props were kept to a minimum – swords, daggers, shields, scrolls, dishes, candles.
Props were brought on and taken off the stage as the play progressed.
• Costumes were the dress of everyday life. People of this time period were very class conscious – the fabric of one’s clothing indicated to others his/her station in life.
satin- taffeta- velvet =aristocrats (rich)
coarse wool = commoner
canvas aprons = working men (labors)
• The color of the actors clothes symbolized their status in the play.
scarlet = rulers dark blue = servants yellow = jealous
character orange = pride light blue = honor rose = gallantry
• Most costumes were very lavish, colorful and expensive
• Women were not actors so the parts of women were played by young boys – high voice and no beard.
• The skills an actor had to have were:
1. good fencer
2. dancer, musician
3. good speaking voice
• 1613 – Globe Theatre was destroyed during a performance of Henry VIII. Fire from a cannon landed on the thatched roof and caught fire.
1614 – More elaborate theatre was built on the same spot.
• 1644 – The Puritans tore down the Globe Theatre because they believed plays were immoral and caused sin.
• 1666 – The London fire destroyed all traces of the Globe Theatre.
• 1997 – Theatre reopened for performances - was rebuilt in the same place with same materials as the original.
