Elizabethan times:
The age of Shakespeare was a great time in English history, regarded as the golden Era. The Era is named after the greatest Queen of England- Queen Elizabeth I.
The Elizabethan Era took place from 1558 to 1603, and saw England emerge as the leading naval and commercial power of the Western World. During this Era England experienced peace and prosperity while poetry, music and literature flourished. At this time, London was the heart of England reflecting all the vibrant qualities of the Elizabethan age. Such an atmosphere made
London a leading centre of culture as well as commerce. In the 16th century London also underwent a population transformation. Its population grew 400% during the 1500’s, swelling to nearly 200,000 people in the city. As a result a rising commercial middle class
population moved in and cultivated a productive livelihood, the economy thus
boomed. The Elizabethan Era is perhaps most famous for its theatre and
the works of William Shakespeare. During this time William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England’s past style of plays and theatre. Many more permanent theatres opened in London over the next several
years including the very famous Globe Theatre.
Theatre was not the only form of art to flourish during the Elizabethan Era. Other arts such as music and painting also became popular during the time. The Elizabethan Era also saw the rise of the English navy with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It also saw many improvements in navigation when Sir Francis Drake successfully circumnavigated the globe. Other famous explorers included Sir Walter Raleigh who established the Virginia Colony and Sir Humphrey Gilbert who discovered newfound land.
Clothing and fashion played an important role among nobles and the wealthy during this period. There were even laws enforced only allowing
certain types of people to wear certain items of clothing. For example, only members of the Royal family could wear clothing trimmed with ermine fur and the nobles wore only very fancy clothing made of silk and velvet.
One reason for the Elizabethan age being viewed so highly was because of the periods before and after. The Era was a brief period of peace between the English Reformation and the battles between the Protestants and Catholics, as well as the battles between Parliament and the Monarchy that engulfed the seventeenth century. The Protestant/Catholic divide was settled for a time by the Elizabethan Religious Settlements, and Parliament was
not yet strong enough to challenge royal dictatorship. England was also a well-off, thriving Country compared to the rest of Europe. The Italian
Renaissance had come to an end under the weight of foreign domination and France was combating its own religious battles that would only be settled in 1598. The one great rival of England during this time was Spain. An attempt by Philip II of Spain to invade England with the Spanish Armada in 1588 was famously defeated, but soon turned ugly for England once again with an unsuccessful expedition to Portugal and the Azores of 1589. Thereafter, to seek revenge against England, the Spanish provided some support for Irish Catholics in a debilitating rebellion against English rule, inflicting a series of reversal
attacks. This drained both the English treasury and the economy that had been so carefully restored under Elizabeth’s sensible guidance.
All in all, it was the battles that were the lost and the wars that were won that inspired Shakespeare to combine the best traits of
Elizabethan drama with classical sources to enrich his imagination and wit. In doing so, he was able to successfully portray the Elizabethan times for what it was.
The Elizabethan Era took place from 1558 to 1603, and saw England emerge as the leading naval and commercial power of the Western World. During this Era England experienced peace and prosperity while poetry, music and literature flourished. At this time, London was the heart of England reflecting all the vibrant qualities of the Elizabethan age. Such an atmosphere made
London a leading centre of culture as well as commerce. In the 16th century London also underwent a population transformation. Its population grew 400% during the 1500’s, swelling to nearly 200,000 people in the city. As a result a rising commercial middle class
population moved in and cultivated a productive livelihood, the economy thus
boomed. The Elizabethan Era is perhaps most famous for its theatre and
the works of William Shakespeare. During this time William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England’s past style of plays and theatre. Many more permanent theatres opened in London over the next several
years including the very famous Globe Theatre.
Theatre was not the only form of art to flourish during the Elizabethan Era. Other arts such as music and painting also became popular during the time. The Elizabethan Era also saw the rise of the English navy with the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It also saw many improvements in navigation when Sir Francis Drake successfully circumnavigated the globe. Other famous explorers included Sir Walter Raleigh who established the Virginia Colony and Sir Humphrey Gilbert who discovered newfound land.
Clothing and fashion played an important role among nobles and the wealthy during this period. There were even laws enforced only allowing
certain types of people to wear certain items of clothing. For example, only members of the Royal family could wear clothing trimmed with ermine fur and the nobles wore only very fancy clothing made of silk and velvet.
One reason for the Elizabethan age being viewed so highly was because of the periods before and after. The Era was a brief period of peace between the English Reformation and the battles between the Protestants and Catholics, as well as the battles between Parliament and the Monarchy that engulfed the seventeenth century. The Protestant/Catholic divide was settled for a time by the Elizabethan Religious Settlements, and Parliament was
not yet strong enough to challenge royal dictatorship. England was also a well-off, thriving Country compared to the rest of Europe. The Italian
Renaissance had come to an end under the weight of foreign domination and France was combating its own religious battles that would only be settled in 1598. The one great rival of England during this time was Spain. An attempt by Philip II of Spain to invade England with the Spanish Armada in 1588 was famously defeated, but soon turned ugly for England once again with an unsuccessful expedition to Portugal and the Azores of 1589. Thereafter, to seek revenge against England, the Spanish provided some support for Irish Catholics in a debilitating rebellion against English rule, inflicting a series of reversal
attacks. This drained both the English treasury and the economy that had been so carefully restored under Elizabeth’s sensible guidance.
All in all, it was the battles that were the lost and the wars that were won that inspired Shakespeare to combine the best traits of
Elizabethan drama with classical sources to enrich his imagination and wit. In doing so, he was able to successfully portray the Elizabethan times for what it was.
Shakespeare's globe theatre:
The original Globe Theatre was an Elizabethan theatre which opened in autumn 1599 in Southwark, on the south bank of the Thames- now known as Bankside. It was one of several major theatres that were located in the area. The other theatres were known as the Swan, the Rose and the Hope. The Globe was the main playhouse of the Lord of Chamberlain’s Men (who were later known as the King’s men in 1603). Most of Shakespeare’s plays were staged at the Globe, including Macbeth, Othello, King Lear and Hamlet. The Globe was owned by many actors, who were all (except for one) shareholders in the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men- a playwright producing group. As well as having a share in the playwright company, Shakespeare also had a 12.5% share in the Globe, which later decreased to about 7% over the course of his career.
The Globe was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre. The theatre had been built by Richard Burbage’s father who originally had a 20-
year lease of the site on which the theatre was built. When the lease ran out, they dismantled the Theatre beam by beam and transported it over the Thames to reconstruct it as the Globe Theatre.
On June 29, 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry the Eighth. A theatrical cannon set off during the performance, misfired and ignited the wooden beams of the theatre. According to one of the few surviving documents, no one was hurt as a result of the fire except for one man who put out his burning breeches with a bottle of beer.
Layout of the original Globe: The Globe’s actual dimensions are unknown, but its shape and size can be approximated from historians and scholars. Evidence found suggests that it was a three-story, open-air amphitheatre (circular or open theatre) between 29.6-31.1 metres in diameter that could house up to 3,000 spectators. Although, in 1997, the uncovering of a small part of the original Globe’s foundation suggested that it was actually a polygon of 20 or possibly 18 sides.
At the base of the stage, there was an area called the pit where spectators would stand to view the performances. Around the standing areas were
three levels of stadium-style seats, which were more expensive than the standing room. A rectangular stage platform, also known as an ‘apron stage’ thrust out in the middle of the open-air yard. The stage measured approximately 13.1metres in width and 8.2metres in depth and was raised about 1.5metres off the ground. On the stage there was a trap door for use by performers to enter from beneath the stage, or exit into a ‘fiery hell’. Large pillars on either side of the stage supported a roof over the rear portion of the stage. The ceiling under this was known as the ‘heavens’, and may have been painted with clouds and the sky. A trap door in the ‘heavens’ enabled performers to descend using some form of rope or harness. The back wall of the stage had three or two doors on the main level, with a curtained inner stage centre and a balcony above it. The balcony housed the musicians and could be used for scenes requiring an upper space, such as the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet!
The modern Globe: The new Globe theatre which was built according to an Elizabethan plan was opened in 1997 under the name ‘Shakespeare’s Globe
Theatre’ and now stages plays every summer (May to October). The new theatre is on Bankside in London, and is approximately 205metres from the original site. It was the first thatched roof building permitted in London since the Great Fire of London in 1666. As was the original Globe, the theatre is open to the sky and has a thrust out stage surrounded by three tiers of seating. The only covered parts of the circular theatre are the stage and the more expensive seating areas. Plays are put on during summer, usually between May and the first week of October. In the winter the theatre is used for educational purposes, but tours are available throughout the year. The reconstruction of the entire Globe was carefully researched so that the new building would be as close a replica as possible. Modernisations to the Globe include the addition of sprinklers on the roof to protect against fires and the fact that the theatre is partly joined to a lobby, visitor centre and addition backstage areas. Due to health and safety regulations 1,300 people can only be housed during the show, under half the estimated 3,000 people of Shakespeare’s era.
Chamberlain’s Men- a playwright producing group. As well as having a share in the playwright company, Shakespeare also had a 12.5% share in the Globe, which later decreased to about 7% over the course of his career.
The Globe was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre. The theatre had been built by Richard Burbage’s father who originally had a 20-
year lease of the site on which the theatre was built. When the lease ran out, they dismantled the Theatre beam by beam and transported it over the Thames to reconstruct it as the Globe Theatre.
On June 29, 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry the Eighth. A theatrical cannon set off during the performance, misfired and ignited the wooden beams of the theatre. According to one of the few surviving documents, no one was hurt as a result of the fire except for one man who put out his burning breeches with a bottle of beer.
Layout of the original Globe: The Globe’s actual dimensions are unknown, but its shape and size can be approximated from historians and scholars. Evidence found suggests that it was a three-story, open-air amphitheatre (circular or open theatre) between 29.6-31.1 metres in diameter that could house up to 3,000 spectators. Although, in 1997, the uncovering of a small part of the original Globe’s foundation suggested that it was actually a polygon of 20 or possibly 18 sides.
At the base of the stage, there was an area called the pit where spectators would stand to view the performances. Around the standing areas were
three levels of stadium-style seats, which were more expensive than the standing room. A rectangular stage platform, also known as an ‘apron stage’ thrust out in the middle of the open-air yard. The stage measured approximately 13.1metres in width and 8.2metres in depth and was raised about 1.5metres off the ground. On the stage there was a trap door for use by performers to enter from beneath the stage, or exit into a ‘fiery hell’. Large pillars on either side of the stage supported a roof over the rear portion of the stage. The ceiling under this was known as the ‘heavens’, and may have been painted with clouds and the sky. A trap door in the ‘heavens’ enabled performers to descend using some form of rope or harness. The back wall of the stage had three or two doors on the main level, with a curtained inner stage centre and a balcony above it. The balcony housed the musicians and could be used for scenes requiring an upper space, such as the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet!
The modern Globe: The new Globe theatre which was built according to an Elizabethan plan was opened in 1997 under the name ‘Shakespeare’s Globe
Theatre’ and now stages plays every summer (May to October). The new theatre is on Bankside in London, and is approximately 205metres from the original site. It was the first thatched roof building permitted in London since the Great Fire of London in 1666. As was the original Globe, the theatre is open to the sky and has a thrust out stage surrounded by three tiers of seating. The only covered parts of the circular theatre are the stage and the more expensive seating areas. Plays are put on during summer, usually between May and the first week of October. In the winter the theatre is used for educational purposes, but tours are available throughout the year. The reconstruction of the entire Globe was carefully researched so that the new building would be as close a replica as possible. Modernisations to the Globe include the addition of sprinklers on the roof to protect against fires and the fact that the theatre is partly joined to a lobby, visitor centre and addition backstage areas. Due to health and safety regulations 1,300 people can only be housed during the show, under half the estimated 3,000 people of Shakespeare’s era.
By Tijana Chetcuti- 9B (2013) ©