Tudor Britain - Elizabethan Theatre

1. In Tudor England, strolling players toured the countryside performing plays in barns and courtyards of inns.

2. Mystery plays told stories from the Bible and miracle plays told stories of the saints.

3. Henry VIII banned miracle plays as he thought they were a threat to his church.

4. Strolling players were banned in 1572.

5. It was thought that some plays might encourage rebellion and the players may spread the plague.

6. Elizabeth I allowed noblemen to start their own theatre companies.

7. The first Elizabethan theatre was built in London in 1576.

8. Elizabethan theatres were usually circular buildings with thatched roofs surrounding an open air courtyard.

9. They could accommodate large audiences.

10. The stage, which could be as large as forty feet square, jutted into the courtyard, supported on wooden columns.

11. People from all classes went to the theatre because it only cost one penny to stand around the stage and sixpence for a box.

12. Both theatres and plays were banned in city of London in 1596 due to drinking and fighting.

13. The Elizabethan theatres relocated to the south side of River Thames and the famous Globe Theatre was built there in 1598-99.

14. In Shakespeare’s time, girls and women were not allowed on the stage.

15. Female parts were taken by boys whose voices had not broken.

16. The stages were bare as there were few props and little scenery, so the costumes were elaborate to make up for it.

17. Performances of the plays took place in the afternoon and were advertised by a flag.

18. A black flag meant a tragedy, a white flag, a comedy and a red flag a historic play.

19. The gentry paid to sit in the gallery and the nobles could sit on a chair on the stage.

20. Due to the success of Elizabethan theatres, playhouses were established which were small, indoor theatres.

21. The playhouses made it possible to perform plays in the winter and the evenings as they were lit by candles.

22. Famous Elizabethan playwrights included Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.

23. Famous Elizabethan actors included Richard Burbage and Will Kempe.