WEEK 3 - SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON AND ELIZABETHAN AUDIENCES
QUESTION: What was London like in Elizabethan times and who were the people attending the theatre?
You can start by reading the ‘London’ and ‘Audiences’ factsheets on the Globe website.
In Elizabethan times London had a fast growing population, which was some what manageable due to its large size. The growth in population was mainly down to the high amount number of migrants moving to London from the countryside and Europe. It is estimated that between the years 1550-1600 the resident number went from 50,000 to over 200,000. During this time period London was a very built up area, if there was any available space, there was a building work happening on it, it would get some busy that you simply wouldn’t be able to walk on the streets, which brought thieves and disease.
One of the most impacting thing that happened in Elizabethan London was the outbreak of the plague. It mainly arose in the summer as the heat and over crowdedness made it easier for bacteria the speed. The biggest outbreak happened in 1593, when around 10,000 people died from it. Due to the rapid spread of the plague everyday life couldn’t continue as normal, and places such as theatres had to shut down.
London wasn’t only one of the biggest and most populated city in England it was also the richest, it housed the first permanent playhouse, which is another term for a theatre, for example The Globe. It was also home the many wealthy people such as traders and manufacturers. Elizabethan houses were known for their recognizable structures, and can still be seen in today's society, which proves how sturdy they were. They used massive upright timbers, supported by diagonal ones, which white wash walls. This created the famous black and which half-timbered Elizabethan houses.
The theatre was a big part of Elizabethan London, and was a leisurely experience enjoyed by many. Surprising the theatre was available to almost any, although generally more men went then women. The price of the theatre varied depending your allocated viewing area. In an open air theatre the cheapest price was only 1 penny, this meant you were with the groundings, standing in the yard which was surrounding the stage. For an extra penny you could watch the performance from the bench seat in the lower gallery, again for another penny you could seat which a cushion for extra comfort. The most expensive was in the lord’s room, which is where the rich people would sit. For this the starting price was 6 pence.
The audience used to get involved in the performance going on, on stage, and they more often than not didn’t sit in silence. They clapped the heroes and booed the villains, and cheered the special effects, not really like theatre today where everyone is more respectful.
Thieves were also common in the audience, and sometimes even fights broke out, but . In 1612, magistrates banned music at the end of plays at the Fortune, saying the crowd had caused ‘tumults and outrages’ with their dances.
Other all the theatre was an experienced of the theatre was an enjoyable, and due to it’s variety in prices it was available to a wide range of people, which meant it was extremely popular form of entertainment.
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