More handpicked essays just for you.
Why the Elizabethan theatre was successful
How Elizabethan Theatre became successful
How Elizabethan Theatre became successful
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Why the Elizabethan theatre was successful
Why was Elizabethan theatre so successful?
One of the reasons that Elizabethan theatre was so successful was that
it was enjoyed by the Queen. Elizabeth never visited the theatre
herself, but was known to have invited companies of actors to perform
for her at court, as is shown by this extract from government records
in 1572:
"To the Lord Chamberlain's players at Whitehall, 25 February 1572, for
a play presented by them before Her Majesty on St Stephen's Day."
She was a very important patron of the theatre, even allowing one
company to call themselves "The Queen's men". This meant that people
would think that the theatre was not a bad thing as the ruler
appointed by God supported it, and therefore they could not be doing
wrong by following her example.
The nobles of England were also known to be supporters of the theatre,
many invited companies of actors to their homes to perform plays for
them. The nobles often patronised companies to prevent them from being
prosecuted for being vagabonds. One example of this is that Lord
Hunsdon, the Lord Chamberlain, gave money to a group of actors and
even let them call themselves "The Lord Chamberlain's Men". This meant
that people would follow the example of their Lords and go to the
theatre. Another reason that nobles supported the theatre was that it
prevented the lower classes from causing trouble because it took their
minds off the problems of their lives, such as poverty and
unemployment. This meant t...
Eighteenth century British theatre was perhaps the starting point that would evolve into modern theatre. Women started to be allowed on stage and acting techniques were beginning to change. Leading performers were like celebrities with a number of fans. Theatre was an intricate part of the social ladder. In the overall scheme of things the actors and actresses played an important part in making the theatre what it was. Without the performers there wouldn’t really be theatre, so in order to understand the eighteenth century British theatre the performers of that era need to be understood.
The music was played very often as a normal routine. People considered it a must to know how to play an instrument, sing, or be involved somehow with music in this age of time. Instruments in the 1600’s were able to make any type of music; the amazing part was no matter how many instruments you used it would always sound pure and the same. Another unique thing about the music and culture in the 1600’s is that it was also healthy for the body. During the Elizabethan Era the people would gather together to dance and dance for hours, their stamina must have been incredible. Music was use to entertain most people. Before the music became a big part in people life during the Elizabethan Era theatre played a really big part during this time. It was out of the ordinary for women to take part in or be a part of the theatre during this period of time. Do to the fact that women were not allowed to play in any of the plays or drama, younger boys who were still young played the role of women.
She showed this best when she “took time for leisurely pursuits. She loved music and could play the lute herself,” (bio.com). Because of her love of the arts, Elizabeth gained social power. Social power for a ruler is the ability to use the arts in order to influence a country or a ruler’s image in a way that helps them keep power. Elizabeth loved going to see plays or dances in her free time. This allowed her to gain social power because it was a way to connect with her subjects. It allowed commoners to trust her more and they could feel they were more personally connected to her than they were before. Elizabeth’s complete social control could also be seen when artists would honor Elizabeth “by painting her portrait. These images reveal that she was an early fashionista,” (bio.com). Her image was a very important factor in her reign of power. She was able to present herself as very well respected and almost “God-like”. Elizabeth wanted to show people who would see her or her portraits that she was not just a weak woman. She was a force to be reckoned with and her people could see this. She gained social power because her subjects looked up to her and respected her very much. This also allowed commoners to trust her more because her image showed she was intelligent could make decisions for
In the history of civilization, there have been many different types of theatre. There is Greek theatre and Elizabethan theater. Some are musicals, some are comedies and some are tragedies. Some types employ realistic techniques while others are more avant-gardes. But one type stands out among the rest, and that is Kabuki theatre. This classical Japanese style of dance and drama is not just theatre. It is a beautiful form of art, which has been carefully crafted over many centuries.
Of course, the Elizabethan Era being the time of Shakespeare, going to the theatre was always an option. Attending the most well-known, The Globe Theatre was an adventure in itself. Many of Shakespeare's plays (he acted in some of them) were performed at this magnificent theatre.
?Henry V? was written to inspire and to convey a message that would prevent civil war in Britain, as Elizabeth I was old and dying without an heir and so civil could break out and manipulate the country with out control. The theatre would be a place of spreading political and opinionated ideas around the country . So Shakespeare has written a play to inspire and warn the audience about the consequences it could have. So as there wasn?t many newspapers it was a good place to convey a moral or a story.
For 300 years “William Shakespeare has had two lives one on the page and one on the stage” (Research and Innovation). But people ask “Why have the works of William Shakespeare endured for centuries? This is because his wonderful works of his characters, story phrases, and how he just connected to his audience still are alive today as they were alive in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds. This essay will discuss “Why have the works of William Shakespeare endured for centuries?” As evidence three main points will be discussed his great stories, his illumination of the human experience, and his compelling characters.
The Elizabethan Era was a time that reflect the mood and values of the 16th
When Karl Marx wrote “the Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,” he interpreted the historical stage and his writing of history as parts of a theatre: he writes;
Queen Elizabeth I ruled for much of Shakespeare’s life in England and therefore had a great impact on his work. She had a big role in the social arts and culture. Affecting many peoples’ lives in England; she especially affected those in the arts. She supported artists in their work in many different ways. Shakespeare and his theatre being one of the artists she supported. The Queen would come to the theatres to enjoy a show, and whether or not she enjoyed it would be the result of the popularity and success of that play. Shakespeare made a living out of his play writings; the Queen would come and spend many pounds to see a play. This being the reason why Shakespeare would create characters appealing to his Queen.
Nowadays acting has become a very popular source of entertainment. One of the main times acting is first noticed was during medieval times. Back then church services were spoken in Latin and since not many people spoke the language, priest would often teach by acting them out. Plays were originally situated on an altar outside the church, but as time passed and they grew more popular, they were moved to a bigger platform. Soon there were not enough priest available to fill every role, so the church started hiring the townspeople.
Elizabethan times in the 1600s was a progression for the world of the theater. A period named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, it is from this period that modern day society has its foundation for the entertainment industry. From the violence that was prevalent because of the Black Death, people turned to the theater for its poetry and romance. During this time period, there were two types of theatrical performances that were available for the people’s viewing, comedies or tragedies. These two genres were never really intertwined until the time of William Shakespeare. His play, Romeo and Juliet, is an example of both a comedy and a tragedy. It starts off as a comedy with Romeo weeping like a baby because of his love Rosaline, who did not love him back and ends as a tragedy when Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star crossed lovers, commit suicide because the lost of each other. It was also during Shakespeare’s time that writer were finally acknowledged by the people. Before this time, writers were not considered upper classman. Another group of people that began to rise into a higher social class were the actors. Actresses were not present back then because women were not allowed on stage. It was considered unladylike to have a female actor. Men played all the parts. Theater owners were dependent on actors to make them a profit. Rehearsals for the plays were fairly short, only lasting for about a week. The performances themselves would only show for three to four days.
The name most associated with excellence in theatre is William Shakespeare. His plays, more than any other playwright, resonate through the ages. It may be safe to say that he has influenced more actors, directors, and playwrights than any thespian in the history of the stage. But what were his influences? During the Middle Ages theatre was dominated by morality, miracle, and mystery plays that were often staged by the church as a means to teach the illiterate masses about Christianity. It wasn’t until the early sixteenth century that Greek tragedy experienced a revival, in turn, inspiring a generation of renaissance playwrights.
Not only was disease an obstacle William Shakespeare had to overcome in his work, he was also forced to face hampering from religious aspects as well. Leaders in the Puritan community looked down upon plays, acting, and other things of that nature. These authorities thought that these activities would sway people from focusing on the importance of practicing their religion. Plays and such were not allowed to be performed while in the city of London. They were banned. Eventually, despite all the obstructions, plays and theater came to be a popular thing although still forced outside the city (“The Changing Status...”).
... the Renaissance and Elizabethan age to build upon it. The medieval age saw the return of theater in the Church but would become increasingly secularized as theater expanded and matured. However the Church was instrumental in bringing about the return of drama in the medieval age which is what this time period is most remembered for. The change in the language from Latin to the vernacular and the development of costumes and props were major contributions that aided the expansion of the theater as well. No props, language, or costume has had a bigger impact on theater than one person, William Shakespeare. He is the most influential single figure in the entire history of drama and will always be remembered for his fantastic works. The theater has been influenced by countless elements and playwrights that have all contributed to the modern theater that is around today.