Shakespeare’s Life

&

Theater

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23rd, 1564.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a small town northwest of London.

Shakespeare came from an average family with seven brothers and sisters. His parents names

were John and Mary.

In his twenties, Shakespeare went to London to work in theatre.

In 1594, when he was 30, he became a stockholder and member of “The King’s Men,” an acting troupe favored by the royal family.

He went on to be a prolific and successful writer. He wrote 37 five-act plays and countless poems.

Going to the theater in Shakespeare’s time was very different from the modern theater experience.

The Globe Theater in London

In Shakespeare’s time, theaters had open courtyards with nor roof over the center.

                                                                                                  

  

There was no electricity, so the only source of light would

be the sun.

Theaters like The Globe had open-air courtyards with no roofs…

Why?

There was no curtain

or constructed

set…

                    

  

The focus was more on the actors’ presentation… they would convey the location and situation of the scene by the way they delivered their lines.

Because there was very little scenery and sets for plays, the stage was built

differently…

On your diagram, label and take notes on the parts of the

theater.

Your diagram looks a little different than mine, but you

should be able to figure it out!

There was an “inner stage” with three levels… the lowest level was known as the “inner below.” The second level was the “inner above” and the third level was referred to as “the heavens.”

Sound effects were produced in what was called “the hut” which was a chamber above the heavens, much in the same way that sound effects for movies are still produced now.

The main stage jutted out into the audience area. It was about five feet higher than “the pit” which is where poorer people viewed the play. There were no seats in the pit. It was often a muddy messy area.

Audiences were known to pelt bad actors with rotten fruit and vegetables.

There were also balconies for the actors to use on either side of the inner above.

The actor playing Juliet would have

stood in one of these balconies for

the famous balcony scene in

Romeo and Juliet.

Notice that said “actor.” Women were not allowed on stage

in Shakespeare’s times. Young boys

whose voices had not changed yet would

play the female characters.

The audience sat on three sides of the stage as opposed to just in front, like in modern theaters. Patrons who could afford them sat in covered seats called “the galleries”.

                 

 

The stage had a trapdoor in its floor so that ghosts and other magical creatures could appear through it.

A flag flying above the hut alerted theater goers as to what type

of play was being produced that day.

For example, a black flag indicated a

tragedy was playing.

             

  

For homework tonight, read the handout about theater and write

your letter.

Your letter should continue onto the back of the worksheet. It

should be two paragraphs long with clear topic sentences.

It should have an intro like I taught you… and a thesis:

“I went to the theater yesterday and it was great!”

Or

“I went to the theater yesterday and it rocked!”

Or“I went to the theater yesterday and the play was

good but I hate the building.”

Or whatever else your little heart desires!