The Audience, Actors, and Theatrical Traditions
The Elizabethan theatre audience was diverse and passionate, reflecting the broad appeal of drama during this period. The pricing structure of these theatres allowed for a wide range of social classes to attend performances, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of Elizabethan playhouses.
Example: For just a penny, equivalent to 1/12 of a London worker's weekly salary, one could gain entrance to the pit, offering standing room around the stage.
Those who could afford six pence had access to seated places in the covered galleries, typically city merchants and nobility. This tiered pricing system ensured that theatre was accessible to a broad spectrum of society, from commoners to the elite.
The behavior and preferences of the Elizabethan theatre audience were distinctive:
- Spectators ate and drank during performances, creating a lively atmosphere.
- They freely expressed their emotions, responding with laughter or tears.
- There was a great appreciation for language and long speeches.
- Audiences craved sensation and overwhelming emotion.
- They had a particular fondness for metaphor and extremes.
- Thrills and horror were popular elements in plays.
- There was a strong interest in chronicles and history plays featuring heroic deeds, reflecting a strong national sentiment.
Highlight: The diverse and responsive nature of Elizabethan audiences played a crucial role in shaping the content and style of plays during this period.
Actors in Elizabethan theatre faced unique challenges and requirements:
- They needed to maintain a varied repertoire, often preparing new plays in as little as two weeks.
- It was common for actors to play multiple roles in a single performance.
- Excellent memory was essential due to the rapid turnover of plays and the lack of extensive rehearsal time.
Vocabulary: The "tiring house" was the backstage area where actors changed costumes and prepared for their entrances.
A notable aspect of Elizabethan theatre characteristics was the all-male cast. Companies included 5-6 boys to play female roles until their voices broke. These young actors underwent extensive training in singing, dancing, diction, and feminine gestures from a very young age. Interestingly, contemporary audiences found these cross-dressed performances highly convincing.
Two important character types in Elizabethan drama were the clown and the fool:
- The clown typically represented a rough peasant whose language provided a counterpoint to the heroic or romantic language of other characters.
- The fool was portrayed as a professional jester, often serving as a source of wisdom and commentary on the play's events.
Quote: "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." - William Shakespeare, "As You Like It"
The sources of inspiration for Elizabethan drama were diverse, reflecting the era's rich cultural influences:
- The Italian Commedia dell'Arte, known for its stock characters and improvised performances.
- Works of Niccolò Machiavelli, which introduced elements of political intrigue and moral ambiguity.
- Greek tragedies and the works of the Roman philosopher Seneca, influencing the structure of plays and introducing themes of revenge and violence.
- Thomas Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy," which popularized the play-within-a-play device.
These varied influences contributed to the complexity and richness of Elizabethan drama, establishing a theatrical tradition that continues to influence modern theatre and literature.
