Renaissance TheaterRenaissance Theater

Preeminent period of English dramaPreeminent period of English dramaDrama originated from Drama originated from Early types of playsEarly types of plays

or plays – based on Bibleor plays – based on Bible – – taught people how to livetaught people how to live – – a variety of one-act playsa variety of one-act plays

Comedy was introduced during Comedy was introduced during RenaissanceRenaissance

Renaissance DramaRenaissance Drama

Two groups of dramatistsTwo groups of dramatists University graduates – known as high comedy – University graduates – known as high comedy –

witty and sophisticatedwitty and sophisticatedRobert GreeneRobert Greene John LylyJohn Lyly

Those who were not formally educated – wrote Those who were not formally educated – wrote a “lower comedy” – farcical in naturea “lower comedy” – farcical in nature

ShakespeareShakespeareBen JonsonBen Jonson

– – ends happily like a comedy, but ends happily like a comedy, but characters endure life-threatening characters endure life-threatening circumstances like a tragedy – developed by circumstances like a tragedy – developed by John FletcherJohn Fletcher

ShakespeareShakespeare Father was a mayorFather was a mayor 1582 – married Anne Hathaway1582 – married Anne Hathaway

had 3 childrenhad 3 children 1592 – became an actor and playwright1592 – became an actor and playwright

actors were not considered respectableactors were not considered respectable Theaters were constant target of officialsTheaters were constant target of officials

felt employees wasted their time at theatersfelt employees wasted their time at theaters felt that disease was too easily spreadfelt that disease was too easily spread

1594 – joined theater group known as 1594 – joined theater group known as 1603 – became known as 1603 – became known as

their patron was their patron was Acted and wrote for this group until he retired in 1612Acted and wrote for this group until he retired in 1612 In all, wrote plays in 20 years – averaged 2-4 plays per In all, wrote plays in 20 years – averaged 2-4 plays per

yearyear known most for his comedies, histories, and tragediesknown most for his comedies, histories, and tragedies

Characters are universal – true to lifeCharacters are universal – true to life

The GlobeThe Globe

plays were not published after performances – plays were not published after performances – didn’t want to give other theater groups materialdidn’t want to give other theater groups material makes it difficult to account for dates and accurate makes it difficult to account for dates and accurate

manuscriptsmanuscripts performed in the Globe theater –performed in the Globe theater –

In 1576 James Burbage built a theater in the suburbs of In 1576 James Burbage built a theater in the suburbs of London – “the Theater” was the first public theater.London – “the Theater” was the first public theater.

Others were then built outside the city limits to avoid Others were then built outside the city limits to avoid license requirements and closings imposed by London license requirements and closings imposed by London officials.officials.

land was leased – owner raised rentland was leased – owner raised rent in 1599 decided to tear it down, take pieces to another in 1599 decided to tear it down, take pieces to another

property and rebuild it just south of the Thames Riverproperty and rebuild it just south of the Thames River then became known as the Globethen became known as the Globe held crowds of peopleheld crowds of people

The GlobeThe Globe Three parts of the Globe:Three parts of the Globe:

The – 3 stories high – surrounded the inner yardThe – 3 stories high – surrounded the inner yard The – stuck out in the yard with spectators on 3 sides – The – stuck out in the yard with spectators on 3 sides –

no curtains or artificial lightingno curtains or artificial lighting The – 2 story back wall for the stage – also, a gallery The – 2 story back wall for the stage – also, a gallery

above for musicians, certain scenes, etc.above for musicians, certain scenes, etc. The curtains at the back of the stage helped distinguish The curtains at the back of the stage helped distinguish

indoors from outside props.indoors from outside props. Audience could sit on 3 sides of the stage – very close to Audience could sit on 3 sides of the stage – very close to

stage stage Limited the amount of sets they could useLimited the amount of sets they could use

audience relied on imaginationaudience relied on imagination no artificial lighting/no curtain as we use it todayno artificial lighting/no curtain as we use it today

Atmosphere was more like a professional baseball game Atmosphere was more like a professional baseball game than Broadway todaythan Broadway today audience openly expressed its reactions to the playaudience openly expressed its reactions to the play they ate, drank, and talked during performances they ate, drank, and talked during performances

In 1613 the Globe burned down when cannons were fired In 1613 the Globe burned down when cannons were fired and sparks landed on the thatched roof.and sparks landed on the thatched roof.

MacbethMacbeth – – a play in which human actions have a play in which human actions have

their inevitable consequences, in which a character’s their inevitable consequences, in which a character’s bad deeds are never forgiven or corrected.bad deeds are never forgiven or corrected. An ill-judged action will lead to a catastropheAn ill-judged action will lead to a catastrophe

– – usually the title character in a tragedy usually the title character in a tragedy whose actions bring about his own downfallwhose actions bring about his own downfall

– – the problem or character defect that the problem or character defect that causes the hero to do such destructive actionscauses the hero to do such destructive actions

– – a long speech in which a character who is a long speech in which a character who is usually alone onstage expresses his private thoughts usually alone onstage expresses his private thoughts or feelings.or feelings.

– – private words that a character in a play private words that a character in a play speaks to the audience or another character, which speaks to the audience or another character, which are not supposed to be overheard by others onstage.are not supposed to be overheard by others onstage.