The Globe

Question 1

Theatres during Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 1

Less obviously religious styles of theatre
Performances usually took place in courtyards of inns until first purpose build theatre made

Question 2

First purpose built London theatre

Answer 2

Red Lion at Whitechapel
Outside of city walls, long way for London audiences to travel

Question 3

Second purpose built theatre

Answer 3

The Theatre
Shoreditch- James Burbage 1576

Question 4

James Burbage

Answer 4

Originally a carpenter, became an actor then a theatrical entrepreneur
Asked for Robert Dudley’s patronage
1574 Earl of Leicester’s men created

Question 5

What did city authorities not like about theatre

Answer 5

Attracted large crowds which attracted pickpockets, bullies and disagreements that could cause violence

Question 6

What did Council of London do against Theatre early

Answer 6

1574 severe restrictions on performance of plays within city limits

Question 7

What tended to close theatres

Answer 7

Outbreaks of plague

Question 8

The Theatre’s end

Answer 8

Allen (Puritan) refused to renew lease when Burbage’s Theatre’s lease ran out
Burbage’s sons (James died Feb 1597) Richard and Cuthbert and other actors dismantled theatre in winter night 1598

Question 9

Globe creation

Answer 9

Rebuilding done during 1599 in Southwark on south bank of Thames
The money came from 4 actors from the company (including Shakespeare) and Burbage brothers
Wooden ampitheatre

Question 10

How did building of Globe affect competitors

Answer 10

Affected nearby and ageing Rose Theatre
Rose Theatre built by businessman, Philip Henslowe
1599 Henslowe and son in law, leading actor Edward Alleyne leased land just outside northern City of London for a new theatre
Hired Globe’s builder, Peter Street, to build Fortune Theatre where Admiral’s Men moved in 1600

Question 11

Why was the Globe known

Answer 11

Reputation for offering a wide range of genres eg tragedies, histories and comedies.
Appealed to gentry due to having close links with courts

Question 12

Who performed in the Globe

Answer 12

Lord Chaimberlain’s Men

Question 13

Why was the Admiral’s Men popular

Answer 13

Narrower range of plays explicitly designed to have a wider appeal to citizens of London

Question 14

Sharers

Answer 14

Actors who contributed money to company, received share of profits from performances

Question 15

Hirelings

Answer 15

Actors paid a weekly wage

Question 16

Apprentices

Answer 16

Boys who played women- paid very little

Question 17

Downfall of Earl of Leicester’s Men

Answer 17

1583 lost some best actors to Queen’s Men, Dudley couldn’t complain
Never recovered and company no longer existed after Dudley’s death 1588

Question 18

Significance of Earl of Leicester’s Men

Answer 18

Major company and one of main companies that performed at court
Established pattern for companies to follow- first to be awarded patronage and first to occupy one of new public theatres permanently

Question 19

Lord Admiral’s Men

Answer 19

Started as Lord Howard’s Men, changed to Admiral after he was appointed as Admiral.
Performed at Rose Theatre 1587
Early Shakespeare performed here before he joined Chaimberlain’s Men

Question 20

Effect of first plague on theatre

Answer 20

They were closed 1592-1594, when reopened companies had reorganised and many had amalgamated
Lord Chaimberlain’s Men created. Unstable theatrical scene prompted Privy Council to establish a duopoly of two strongest companies- Admiral’s Men and Lord Chaimberlain’s Men

Question 21

Popularity of theatre

Answer 21

Many attended
Large theatres
Socially mixed audience
Relatable characters- Shakespeare’s Capulet in Romeo and Juliet is like self important merchant
Reminded Londoners of civic responsibilities

Question 22

Attending the theatre- sights

Answer 22

Flags showed genres
White- comedy
Black- tragedy
Red/purple- historical
Usually started 2pm with blowing of trumpet

Question 23

Lead actors

Answer 23

Richard Burbage- Lord Chaimberlain’s Men, lead in many Shakespeare plays

Edward Alleyn- Lord Admiral’s Men, tall and powerful

Question 24

Theatre audiences and tiered seating prices

Answer 24

Men and women from all social groups and occupations
Penny- uncovered area in front of stage
2 pennies- bench seat in lower gallery
6 pence- upper galleries, can view play and be seen

Back of stage- tiring house where actors dressed. Sometimes let out to Londoners who wanted to be seen

Question 25

Theatre experience and special effects

Answer 25

Key props used instead of elaborate set decoration Magnificent costumes Sound effects (cannon firing or thunder by rolling cannonballs across gallery roof) Loud audiences Audiences could by refreshments from sellers who moved through crowd

Question 26

Why was patronage important in Elizabethan theatre

Answer 26

Actors had risen socially by end of Elizabeth’s reign 1572 Act of Parliament prevented players from acting without a patron- considered vagabonds Patrons may sponsor plays to improve position in court Privy Councillors found theatre useful- shape public opinion/gain favour with Queen

Question 27

Advantages of being a patron

Answer 27

Gain a reputation for his support of arts and good taste if his group was good Patronage self financing, people paid to see play

Question 28

Where were performances mostly staged for the Queen

Answer 28

Greenwich Palace

Question 29

Master of Revels

Answer 29

From 1578, licensed plays thought suitable for performance, acted as a censor by removing lines offensive to Queen Charged fees for loan of more extravagant costumes to companies if needed Responsible for organising plays performed at Court

Question 30

Queen Elizabeth’s preferences

Answer 30

Comedy Richard Tarlton- skilled clown and stand up comedian Shakespeare and Burbage (Lord Chaimberlain’s Men) called to perform at court 3 times in 1595, they were fashionable in 1590s

Question 31

What was good about organising court performances from London’s Blackfriars

Answer 31

Before 1572 Near Thames, ideal for ferrying equipment

Question 32

Commercial theatres roles in court performances

Answer 32

Post 1572 began to take on higher proportion of court performances Eventually replaced performances put on by Revel’s office

Question 33

How were plays in court

Answer 33

Performed in the evening by candlelight Followed by dancing and a banquet Performing for royalty brought prestige

Question 34

Where were purpose built stages made

Answer 34

In Queen’s places of residences, notably Greenwich Palace

Question 35

Example of play banned

Answer 35

1597 The Isle of Dogs Immediately banned by Privy Council and some actors arrested No copies survive, thought it made slanderous comments about Queen

Question 36

Censorship in plays histories

Answer 36

1599 printing of histories without privy council approval banned

Question 37

Essex play significance

Answer 37

Lord Chaimberlain’s Men paid 40 shillings to perform Richard II for Essex and his supporters before his rebellion Judges at Essex’s trial realised they only performed for money Showed authors had to be careful what was printed