Globe Theatre

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Globe TheatreThe Wooden O
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• 1576 James Burbage built the first English
  theatre

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• 1598 Landowners would not renew the lease
  theatre was dismantled and rebuilt across the
  Thames River

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• 1599 The theatre was rebuilt and named The
  Globe Theatre

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• Shakespeare performed most of his plays at the
  Globe and owned 10 of the theatre.

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• Prices to attend the theatre range from 1 penny
  to 1 shilling (12 cents).
• Prices were double on the first performance.

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• Performances began around 200-300 P.M. after
  lunch but while the sun was still bright.
• Plays were announced by a flag being raised on
  top of the theatre. A white flag indicated a
  comedy and a black flag signaled a tragedy
• 3 trumpet blasts signaled that the play was
  beginning.

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• All kinds of people came to the plays nobility,
  merchant class, apprentices, thieves, beggars,
  etc.
• Merchants sold their goods during the
  performances.
• Average weekly attendance to the theatre was
  20,000 people.

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• The Globe Theatre was round and could seat 2,000
  people.
• The stage was 5 ½ feet highthis kept the
  audience from jumping on the stage.
• Groundlings- stood on the ground in front of the
  stage their admission price was one penny- known
  as the penny public.

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• The stage had three areas of acting
• 1. outer stage
• 2. middle stage
• 3. inner stage

• The ceiling of the stage areas was known as the
  Heavens and was painted with signs of the
  zodiac sun, moon, stars etc.

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• Under the stages trap door was an area known as
  Hell used for special effects such as ghosts
  coming and going.

• Plays were free of interruption no curtains or
  scenery.

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• Props were kept to a minimum swords, daggers,
  shields, scrolls, dishes, candles.
• Props were brought on and taken off the stage as
  the play progressed.

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• Costumes were the dress of everyday life. People
  of this time period were very class conscious
  the fabric of ones clothing indicated to others
  his/her station in life.
• satin- taffeta- velvet aristocrats (rich)
• coarse wool commoner
• canvas aprons working men (labors)

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• The color of the actors clothes symbolized their
  status in the play.
• scarlet rulers
• dark blue servants
• yellow jealous character
• orange pride
• light blue honor
• rose gallantry

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• Most costumes were very lavish, colorful and
  expensive
• Women were not actors so the parts of women were
  played by young boys high voice and no beard.

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• The skills an actor had to have were
• 1. good fencer
• 2. dancer, musician
• 3. good speaking voice

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• 1613 Globe Theatre was destroyed during a
  performance of Henry VIII. Fire from a cannon
  landed on the thatched roof and caught fire.
• 1614 More elaborate theatre was built on the
  same spot.

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• 1644 The Puritans tore down the Globe Theatre
  because they believed plays were immoral and
  caused sin.
• 1666 The London fire destroyed all traces of
  the Globe Theatre.
• 1997 Theatre reopened for performances - was
  rebuilt in the same place with same materials as
  the original.

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