Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreStarter

Write down 3 things you know about The Globe Theatre.

Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre

Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre

ObjectivesIn this lesson you are going to find out about:

• Shakespeare’s early life• Shakespeare's early

plays.• The Globe Theatre• 16th Century London

Theatre.You will complete some Mini-Tasks and a Quiz. You also have to answer a Question about Romeo & Juliet in the End of Semester Exam.

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreEarly Life

This is the house of Shakespeare’s father, John Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare is believed to have been born on 23rd April 1564.Complete Mini Task 1

Shakespeare married the 26-year-old Anne Hathaway in 1582 when he was 18. After the birth of his twins in 1585 Shakespeare seems to have ‘disappeared’ from all known records and does not re-appear until his plays start being performed in London in 1592.This period in Shakespeare's life has come to be known as the ‘lost years’. It is speculated that he did may jobs like being a schoolmaster or he may have gone abroad to Europe where he heard the stories he was later to turn into plays such as Romeo & Juliet.

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreEarly Work

Some biographers suggest that Shakespeare’s career probably began as an actor sometime in the mid-1580s. From 1594, Shakespeare's plays were performed by only the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company owned by a group of players, including Shakespeare, that soon became the leading theatre company in London. After the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the company was awarded a royal patent which allowed them to carry on acting by the new king, James 1. The company then changed its name to the King's Men.

Complete Mini Task 2

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreThe Blackfriars Indoor Theatre

In 1599, a partnership of company members, including Shakespeare, built their own theatre called The Globe, on the south bank of the River Thames

In 1608, the partnership also took over the Blackfriars indoor theatre which allowed them to perform plays in all weathers and throughout the year.

Records of Shakespeare's property purchases and investments indicate that the company made him a wealthy man. In 1597, he bought the second-largest house in Stratford, New Place.

There are no contemporary drawings of any of Shakespeare’s theatres. What we know about The Globe we have learned from architectural plans from this period.

The only drawing in existence is a tourist sketch. Johann DeWitts was a Dutch visitor to London and this is the drawing he made of The Swan theatre in London in 1595 Complete Mini Task 3

 

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreThe Swan

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreA Model of the Globe Theatre 

Built in 1599 by Shakespeare's company the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613 by which time Shakespeare had retired back to Stratford-upon-Avon

A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642 because of the English Civil War.

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreA Model of the Globe Theatre 

You can see from this model that the theatre was an ‘0’ shape with no central roof. There was a canopy over the stage to keep the actors dry and the gallery seats also had some shelter from the elements. But the people who stood in the courtyard to watch the play had no shelter from wind and rain at all. These patrons paid one penny to stand and watch the play and were known as ‘Groundlings.’Complete Mini Task 4

A cut away drawing of the Globe Theatre 

as the courtyard and canopy over the stage.

Plays were only performed during the daytime in the summer months. A flag was flown to show that a play was being performed.

You could sit on the benches for six-pence or a shilling but a cushion would cost an extra penny!Complete Mini Task 5

Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre

In this diagram you can see the three Galleries of seating as well

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreThe Globe Stage

On this model you can see that the stage had three entrances at the back and a gallery with a balcony above the

entrances. This was used for musicians but also came in

handy for the ‘balcony scene’ in Romeo & Juliet.

You can also see that two pillars were used to support

the canopy. The stage also had a trapdoor which could be used for special effects

Like a ghost appearing.Now complete Mini Task 6

Shakespeare & The Globe TheatreThe Globe Stage

After 1606–1607, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays, and none are attributed to him after 1613. His last three plays were collaborations, probably with John Fletcher, who succeeded him as the house playwright for the King’s Men. Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and in his will, Shakespeare left the bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna.Shakespeare's will scarcely mentions his wife, Anne, but he leave her "my second best bed", This may seem an insult to Anne, but the second-best bed would have been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in significance. He was buried in Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. Now complete Mini Task 7

Shakespeare’s monument in Holy

Trinity Church.

Shakespeare’s Plays Shakespeare wrote three types of plays, Histories, Tragedies and

Comedies. This is a list of his plays and the year of first performance.

Now complete Mini Task 8

The New Globe Theatre in London

The New Globe Theatre in London 

The New Globe Theatre in London 

The New Globe Theatre in London