Theatre Flashcards
name a famous playwright:
william shakespeare
what types of plays did Shakespeare write?
comedies, tragedies, histories
was acting played by females?
no, only men
how did how theatres worked in the Elizabethean era change?
in the Elizabethan era, permanent theatres were just starting to be built
both poor and rich could attend theatres performances when before it was seen as something for ordinary people
where did the rich sit?
in the galleries which were seated and covered areas
what were gentlemens room?
balconies on either side of the theatre at around 4 pence a seat
what was the stage like?
it was decorated with scenery and there was almost always a trap door for special affects.
what was the frons scenae?
a back wall with a door where actors entered and exited
what was the pit?
where ordinary people stood to watch and they often heckled the actors. the pit was open to all the weather
what was the tiring room?
room where actors put on their attire
what was the lords room?
the most expensive seats, sometimes used by actors and musicians during performances (also called a juliet balcony) rich people were placed here where everyone could see them
when did performances generally begin?
3pm and continued into the evening
what did the ticket price depend on?
where you sat
why would the atmosphere become chaotic in the pit?
audience members would push and shove to get a better view
what were the five reasons why theatre was so popular?
-it was affordable
-it was new and exciting
-it was a social event
-it was entertaining- plays were humorous, tragic or historical.
-it was contemporary and relevant to the time- many plays carried political messages
