Historical Context - Week 4 - Part 1

Theatres Shakespeare's time 

'Playhouse'

There were many different types of playhouses in London during the Shakespearian era. There were amphitheatres or 'public' playhouses and playhouses that were indoors called  'halls' and sometimes referred to as 'private' playhouses. These types of theatres were both very different as they attracted a different type of audience. 

The First Playhouse! 

Name: Red Lion (used to be Red Lion Inn) 

Built by: John Brayne

Location: Stepny

It is unknown about how successful this playhouse was but it is believed to be a play house that spurred on other playhouses to be built.

What happened next....?

In 1576 there was another theatre build by Brayne and James Burbage, which again was outside the city walls - more about Burbage, he was an actor with the Ear of Leicester's Men and they often performed in the theatre in their first two years of it being built. 

Newington Butts theatre was built in the south in 1576 also and in the following year the Curtain was build neat the Theatre. In the following 5 years more and more companies started to perform in the Inn's Yards - Fun Fact! - Theatres in that time were also used for other forms of entertainment as well as plays.

What made people want to build on the south of the Thames?

Because people thought that crime rates were high and the loudness of the theatres were too disruptive many people decided to build playhouses on sites where city officials couldn't control them - however this did mean building outside the city walls. Now where could they find somewhere really accessible to build the theatres? The South Side of the River Thames! Of course it's outside the city's walls and there were already loud activities that took place there like Animal Baiting Arenas, brothels and Taverns where you could drink your sorrows away. And obviously this was a place for good entertainment and it was where 

Features of outdoor Playhouses

Globe Theatre Labeled

• Raised stage that would go out into the yard
• a roof over the stage (aka 'the heavens') 
• A tiring house behind the stage with a backstage area - this is where the actors would dress and would await their entrance
• A central yard that opened up to the sky
• Above the the tiring house area there was the lord's rooms where there would be large rooms to store different things in and this was roofed. 
• and obviously the galleries surrounding the theatre where the audience would sit 

Who Build the Playhouses?

James Burbage

Some were built by Businessmen, they noticed the rising attraction of the theatre and that companies were touring so decided to create money making spaces around the city.They were the ones in wealth which is very different to the acting companies who usually would be penniless. It was a great opportunity for businessmen to let the companies hire out the land - the fare would usually be half the income that they would make per ticket.