WEEK 4 - THEATRES, ACTORS AND ACTING IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

QUESTION: What were the theatres or ‘playhouses’ of Shakespeare’s time like and how were plays staged in them?

QUESTION: Who were the actors of Shakespeare’s plays and how did the experience of being an actor differ from the experience today?

http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Theater/

Use the Globe’s fact sheets on Actors and Playhouses

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

Question 1:

During shakespeare's time plays were not restricted to the stage, they were visitille, the same production could be put performanced at an outdoor playhouse, indoor theatre, a tour etc.  

Many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed in a playhouse theatre. In 1567 the first playhouse, the Red Lion was built,  by a John Brayne. As it was built, so long ago there isn’t a lot of facts or information about it, however it thought to be the kick start to many other playhouse opening.  

Almost 10 years later in 1576 Brayne and a man called James Burbage built the theatre, which was located just outside the city walls. This was one of the first playhouses in England since the Roman era. The structure was very similar to other playhouses of that time, it was a multi-sided structure with a central uncovered yard, this surrounded by a tiered sitting on each 3 sides, with a raised stage at one end of the yard. Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, was one of many to perform and the Theatre, around the time on 1594. A couple years down the line, the lease to the theatre was lost, so the construction of a bigger and better playhouse was built, The Globe. It Opened in 1599, and became the home of some of shakespeare’s most well known plays, the first being Julia Caesar in 1599, and others such as Hamlet, Macbeth and As you like it.

Question 2:

In shakespearean times being a professional actor was only an opportunity for men and boys, women weren’t allowed in this profession. This meant men would play all the female roles, such as, Ophelia and Desdemona. Like some actors in today’s time actors would start there training as young children. They could go one to join a company as an apprentice, and be mentored by an older actor.  The expected skill set of an actor were as follows, sword fighting, singing, dancing and a good memory for line learning.

The average day for an Shakespearean actors, is that they would perform during the afternoon as that was the best time for natural lighting,  and was spend the mornings rehearsing, however they did not have much rehearsal time. Most actors would often be in several plays with many parts at the same time. This is much unlike actors now days, they would spend several months prior to the show rehearsing the they would spend months putting on the same show, a matinee and evening performance. Now days it’s also highly unlikely they would be in more than one acting job at a time.

One of the main difference between actor in our time and in shakespearean times, is the way they learnt the part. Due to copyright issues they was not copies of the script, instead each actor was given a roll/scribe with their line and their cue line on it. However actors now will just be given a full script. This was a challenge for shakespearean actors, as it meant they always had to be alert to make sure they didn’t miss their line, and they always had to present in the moment.