Transcript Globe Theatre

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 2:003:00 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.