Shakespeare's Audiences
Audiences - The globe and many other theatres around London had the capacity to hold 300 people for popular and famous plays meaning, 10,000 to 20,000 were going to the theatre in London in a week!
Who went?
Everyone and anyone - open air theatres were cheap and affordable just one pennie for an admission fee. Servants spent their breaks in theatres watching play after play. The Venetian Ambassador did purchase tickets to watch Pericles by William Shakespeare as well as that, the royals were no strangers to the theatre either. Casts of plays were called to perform for Elizabeth the I and James the I in their private courts.
Why did people go so often?
Open aired theatres were the cheapest thing, 1 penny would allow you to stand and watch, another penny would give you the lower circle of the theatre and 3 pennies would allow you to have a cushion.The rich could buy the "lord's rooms" for the mere price of 6 pennies. (1 penny is equivalent to a loaf of bread during this time)
How would people behave?
Behaviour depended on class, some members of the audience went to the theatre to show off their best clothes however may not have had the best manners while in the theatre. There was often talking and discussion with the members of the audience which is not the etiquette we have today. It was rather like a panto, people cheered the goodies and booed the baddies. Lurking around would be pick pocketers. Dancing would privale at the end of each play with the sound of gracious music - Magistrates banned music at the end of shows because of the "Tumults and outrages" with their dances.
Did the audience affect the success of the plays?
Due the to the amount of people coming to the theatre there were several short runs of plays because they had to keep having new work.
Fun Fact! In the 80 years between 1560 and 1640 there were 3000 plays written!!!
Many plays did re tell the stories from the past - people loved the battles, music and the humour! Many who didn't like the play would surely let you know....The Swan theatre was damaged in 1602 when several audience members smashed up chairs and stools and ripped the curtains off the wall. There was even hissing in the play "pippin-pelted"! I guess it was because they used women as the female roles (*sarcastic tone* Oh how terrible!) The audience were the ones who gave the support to the theatres and without the support of the audience there would be no shows. !
By paying a penny what was it going to be like? I have written a dairy extract to try and capture what it was like to be in the pit of the globe.
"the globe wast this vast space wh're we couldst enjoyeth a drinketh of ale, has't an apple to consume and gaze a comedy 'r tragedy t is a lodging i oft wend because i w'rk so much t is nice to seeth something on stage. howev'r the pit doest smelleth a did bite liketh garlic and i doth wisheth to sitteth on a cushion'd seat one day. most people doth findeth us a disgrace but i careth not i am having excit'ment.
a penny f'r an evening of excit'ment what m're couldst thee wanteth?"
Said By Servant William
In translation
"the globe was this vast space where we could enjoy a drink of ale, have an apple to eat and watch a comedy er tragedy it is a place i often go because i work so much. it is nice to see something on stage. however the pit does smell a bit like garlic and i do wish to sit on a cushioned seat one day. most people do find us a disgrace but i care not i am having fun.
a penny for an evening of fun what mere could you want?"
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