Elizabethan theatre is a general term covering the plays written and performed publicly in England during the reign (1558 - 1603) of Queen Elizabeth I. The term can be used more broadly to also include theatre of Elizabeth's immediate successors, James I and Charles I, until the closure of public theaters in 1642, with the onset of the Civil War. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... Events January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession of England July 13 - Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines. ... King James I of England/VII of Scotland, the first monarch to rule the Kingdoms of England and Scotland at the same time Events March - Samuel de Champlain, French explorer, sails to Canada March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James I of... Elizabeth I, (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... James VI of Scotland and James I of England and Ireland (Charles James) (June 19, 1566–March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland. ... Charles I (19 November 1600–30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between English Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ...

History

Elizabethan theatre derived from several sources. A crucial source was the mystery plays that were part of religious festivals in England and other parts of Europe during the Middle Ages. The mystery plays were complex retellings of legends based on biblical themes, originally performed in churches but later becoming more linked to the secular celebrations that grew up around religious festivals. Other sources include the morality plays that evolved out of the mysteries, the "University drama" that attempted to recreate Greek tragedy. Later, in the 17th century, the Commedia dell'arte and the elaborate masques frequently presented at court came to play roles in the shaping of public theater. Mystery plays or miracle plays are one of the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Morality plays are a type of theatrical allegory in which the protagonist is met by personifications of various moral attributes who try to prompt him to choose a Godly life over one of evil. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Introduction Antoine Watteaus commedia dellarte player of Pierrot, ca 1718-19, traditionally identified as Gilles (Louvre) Commedia dellarte, (Italian, meaning comedy of professional artists) was a form of improvisational theater which began in the 16th century and was popular until the 18th century, although it is still... The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy. ...

Temporary companies of players attached to households of leading noblemen and performing seasonally in various locations existed before the reign of Elizabeth I. These became the foundation for the professional players that performed on the Elizabethan stage. The tours of these players gradually replaced the performances of the mystery and morality plays by local players, and a 1572 law eliminated the remaining companies lacking formal patronage by labelling them as vagabonds. At court as well, the performance of masques by courtiers and other amateurs, apparently common in the early years of Elizabeth, was replaced by the professional companies with noble patrons, who grew in number and quality during her reign. Elizabeth I, (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ...

The local government of London was generally hostile to public performances, but its hostility was overmatched by the Queen's taste for plays and the Privy Council's support. Theatres sprang up in suburbs, especially in Southwark, accessible across the Thames to city dwellers, but not controlled by the London corporation. The companies maintained the pretence that their public performances were mere rehearsals for the frequent performances before the Queen, but while the latter did grant prestige, the former were the real source of the income professional players required. For other uses, see London (disambiguation) and Defining London (below). ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ...

Performances

A 1596 sketch of a performance in progress on the thrust stage of The Swan, a typical circular Elizabethan open-roof playhouse.

The stage on which Elizabethan plays were performed was essentially a platform surrounded on three sides by the audience, only the rear being open for entrances, exits, and seating for musicians to accompany the frequent songs. The first purpose-built theatre for plays in England since Roman times was The Theatre, built in Shoreditch by James Burbage in 1576, and was rapidly followed by the nearby Curtain Theatre. By 1600, there were several theatres, each with an upper level which could be used as a balcony, as in Romeo and Juliet, or as a position for an actor to harangue a crowd as in Julius Caesar. Download high resolution version (502x602, 348 KB)A cropped version of this sketch. ... Download high resolution version (502x602, 348 KB)A cropped version of this sketch. ... Events February 5 - 26 catholics crucified in Nagasaki, Japan. ... In theater, a thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the back stage area by its up stage end. ... A 1596 sketch of a performance in progress on the platform or apron stage of the Swan. ... The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... This article is about one specific theatre in London; for information on theatres in general, see Theater. ... Shoreditch is a place in the London Borough of Hackney. ... James Burbage (d. ... The Curtain Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse. ... 1597 1598 1599 - 1600 - 1601 1602 1603 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1570s 1580s 1590s - 1600s - 1610s 1620s 1630s |- | align=center | Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century |} // Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned at the... A balcony comprising a balustrade supported at either end by plinths. ... The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, commonly referred to as Romeo and Juliet, is a play by William Shakespeare concerning the fate of two young lovers who would do anything to be together. ... Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare probably written in 1599. ...

One distinctive feature of the companies was that they included only males. Until the reign of Charles II, female parts were played by adolescent boys in women's costume. Charles II or The Merry Monarch (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ...

Writers

The growing population of London, the growing wealth of its people, and their fondness for spectacle produced a dramatic literature of remarkable variety, quality, and extent. Although most of the plays written for the Elizabethan stage have been lost, over 600 remain extant.

The men (no woman, so far as is known, wrote for the stage in this era) who wrote these plays were primarily self-made men from modest backgrounds. Some of them had educations at either Oxford or Cambridge, but many did not. The university men often looked down on those writers who lacked education. Although William Shakespeare was an actor, the majority do not seem to have been performers, and no major author who came on to the scene after 1600 is known to have supplemented his income by acting. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Cambridge (often called Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... 1597 1598 1599 - 1600 - 1601 1602 1603 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1570s 1580s 1590s - 1600s - 1610s 1620s 1630s |- | align=center | Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century |} // Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned at the...

Not all of the playwrights fit modern images of poets or intellectuals. Christopher Marlowe was killed in an apparent tavern brawl, Shakespeare had associates in the London underworld and supplemented his income with money-lending, while Ben Jonson killed an actor in a duel. Several probably were soldiers. An anonymous portrait, often believed to show Christopher Marlowe. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Benjamin Jonson (June 11, 1572 – August 6, 1637) was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. ...

Playwriting was a lucrative occupation for a writer who could produce around 2 plays per year. Most professional playwrights earned an average of 25 pounds a year, an impressive amount at the time. They would normally be paid in increments during the writing process, and if their play was accepted, they would also receive the proceeds from one day's performance. However, they had no ownership of the plays they wrote. Once a play was sold to a company, the company owned it, and the playwright had no control over casting, performance, revision or publication.

Finale

The rising Puritan movement was hostile to the theatres, which the Puritans considered to be sinful for several reasons. The most commonly cited reason was that young men dressed up in female costume to play female roles. Theatres were located in the same parts of the city in which brothels and other forms of vice proliferated. When the Puritan faction of Parliament gained control over the city of London at the beginning of the English Civil War, it ordered the closing of all theatres in 1642 — though this was largely because the stage was being used to promote opposing political views. After the monarchy was restored the theatres re-opened. The English King and many writers had spent years in France and were influenced by the flourishing French theatre of Louis XIV, especially in tragedy. However, Restoration audiences had no enthusiasm for structurally simple, well-shaped comedies such as those of Molière, but demanded bustling, crowded multi-plot action and fast comedic pace, and the Elizabethan features of multitude of scenes, multitude of characters, and melange of genres lived on in Restoration comedy. The Elizabethan classics were the mainstay of the Restoration repertory, although many of the tragedies were adapted to conform to the new taste. The Puritans were members of a group of English Protestants seeking further reforms or even separation from the established church during the Reformation. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between English Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... King Charles II The English Restoration or simply Restoration was an episode in the history of Great Britain beginning in 1660 when the monarchy was restored under King Charles II after the English Civil War. ... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715), reigned as King of France and of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death at the age of 77. ... Molière, engraved frontispiece to his Works. ... Refinement meets burlesque in Restoration comedy. ...

Genres

Genres of the period included the history play, which depicted English or European history. Shakespeare’s plays about the lives of kings, such as Richard III and Henry V belong to this category, as does Christopher Marlowe's Edward II. Traditionally, the works of William Shakespeare have been grouped into three categories: tragedies, comedies, and histories. ... William Shakespeare—born April 1564; baptised April 26, 1564; died April 23, 1616 (O.S.), May 3, 1616 (N.S.)—has a reputation as the greatest of all writers in English. ... The Life and Death of King Richard III is William Shakespeares version of the short career of Richard III of England, who receives a singularly unflattering depiction. ... Henry V is a play by William Shakespeare based on the life of King Henry V of England. ... An anonymous portrait, often believed to show Christopher Marlowe. ... Edward II is an Elizabethan play written by Christopher Marlowe. ...

Tragedy was a popular genre. Marlowe's tragedies were exceptionally popular, such as Dr Faustus and The Jew of Malta. The audiences particularly liked revenge dramas, such as Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy. John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi offers a parade of bloody cruelties. In general usage, a tragedy is a drama, movie or sometimes a real world event with a sad outcome. ... The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge. ... The Jew of Malta is a play by Christopher Marlowe. ... The revenge play or revenge tragedy is a form of tragedy extremely popular in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. ... Thomas Kyd (1558 - 1594) was an English dramatist, the author of The Spanish Tragedy, and one of the most important figures in the development of Elizabethan drama. ... Title page of the Quarto edition (1615) The Spanish Tragedie: or, Hieronimo is Mad Againe is an Elizabethan tragedy written by Thomas Kyd between 1587-1590 and first performed in London around 1590. ... John Webster (c. ... The Duchess of Malfi is a macabre, tragic play, written by the English dramatist John Webster and first performed in 1614 at the Globe Theatre in London. ...

Comedies were common, too. A subgenre developed in this period was the city comedy, which deal satirically with life in the city after the fashion of Roman New Comedy. Examples are Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday and Thomas Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside. City comedy is a common genre of Elizabethan drama. ... Greek comedy is the name given to a wide genre of theatrical plays written, and performed, in Ancient Greece. ... Thomas Dekker, (c. ... Thomas Middleton (baptized April 18, 1580, died 1627) was an English Jacobean playwright and poet. ...

List of playwrights

• William Alabaster
• William Alley
• Robert Armin
• Thomas Ashton
• Francis Beaumont
• Samuel Brandon
• George Chapman
• Henry Chettle
• Samuel Daniel
• John Day
• Thomas Dekker
• Michael Drayton
• Richard Edwardes
• John Fletcher
• John Ford
• Abraham Fraunce
• Ulpian Fulwell
• Thomas Garter
• George Gascoigne
• Thomas Goffe
• Arthur Golding
• Robert Greene
• Richard Hathwaye
• William Haughton
• Thomas Heywood
• Thomas Hughes
• Ben Jonson
• Thomas Kyd
• Thomas Legge
• Thomas Lodge
• Thomas Lupton
• John Lyly
• Christopher Marlowe
• John Marston
• Philip Massinger
• Thomas Middleton
• Anthony Munday
• Thomas Nashe
• Thomas Norton
• George Peele
• John Phillip
• John Pickering
• Henry Porter
• Thomas Preston
• William Rankins
• Samuel Rowley
• William Rowley
• William Shakespeare
• James Shirley
• Philip Sidney
• Wentworth Smith
• John Webster

William Alabaster (also Alablaster, Arblastier) (1567-1640) was an English poet, playwright, and religious writer. ... Robert Armin (c. ... Francis Beaumont (1584 – 1616), was an English dramatist most famous for his collaborations with John Fletcher. ... This article is about George Chapman the English literary figure; see George Chapman (murderer) for the Victorian poisoner of the same name. ... Henry Chettle (1564?-1607?) was an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer of the Elizabethan era. ... Samuel Daniel (1562–October 14, 1619) was an English poet and historian. ... John Day (1574-1640?) was an English dramatist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. ... Thomas Dekker, (c. ... Michael Drayton (1563- December 23, 1631) was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. ... John Fletcher was born December, 1579 (baptized December 20) in Rye, Sussex, and died of the plague in August 1625 (buried August 29 in St. ... John Ford (baptized April 17, 1586 - c. ... Abraham Fraunce (c. ... George Gascoigne (c. ... Thomas Goffe (1591 - 1629) was a minor Elizabethan dramatist. ... Arthur Golding (c. ... Robert Greene, MA , BA (1558 – September 3, 1592) was an English playwright, poet, pamphleteer, and prose writer. ... Richard Hathwaye (fl. ... William Haughton (d. ... Thomas Heywood (died approx. ... A statue of Thomas Hughes at Rugby School For the recipient of the Victoria Cross see Thomas Hughes, VC Thomas Hughes (October 20, 1822 – March 22, 1896) was an English lawyer and author. ... Benjamin Jonson (June 11, 1572 – August 6, 1637) was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. ... Thomas Kyd (1558 - 1594) was an English dramatist, the author of The Spanish Tragedy, and one of the most important figures in the development of Elizabethan drama. ... Thomas Lodge (c. ... John Lyly (Lilly or Lylie) (c. ... An anonymous portrait, often believed to show Christopher Marlowe. ... John Marston (October 7, 1576 - June 25, 1634) was an English poet, playwright and satirist during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. ... Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) was an English dramatist. ... Thomas Middleton (baptized April 18, 1580, died 1627) was an English Jacobean playwright and poet. ... Anthony Munday (or Monday) (c. ... Thomas Nashe (November 1567–1600?) was an English Elizabethan pamphleteer, poet and satirist. ... Thomas Norton (1532 - March 10, 1584) was a English lawyer, politician and writer of verse. ... George Peele (1558 - c. ... John Phillip The Evil Eye (1859), a self-portrait depicting the artist sketching a Spanish gypsy who thinks she is being given the evil eye John Phillip (1817-1867) was a Victorian era painter best known for his portrayals of Spanish life. ... John Pickering (22 September 1737 - 11 April 1805) served as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court and as Judge for the Federal District Court of New Hampshire. ... Henry Porter (fl. ... Thomas Preston may refer to: Thomas Preston, English composer (d. ... Samuel Rowley was a 17th century English dramatist. ... William Rowley was an English Jacobean dramatist, best known for works written in collaboration with more successful writers. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... James Shirley (or Sherley) (September 1596 - October 29, 1666), was an English dramatist. ... Philip Sidney Sir Philip Sidney (November 30, 1554 – October 17, 1586) became one of the Elizabethan Ages most prominent figures. ... Wentworth Smith (fl. ... John Webster (c. ...

List of players

• Edward Alleyn
• Robert Armin
• Christopher Beeston
• Richard Burbage
• Henry Condell
• Nathan Field
• John Heminges
• Thomas Heywood
• Will Kempe
• William Rowley
• William Shakespeare
• Richard Tarlton

Edward Alleyn (September 1, 1566 - November 25, 1626), English actor, was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre and founder of Dulwich College and Alleyns School. ... Robert Armin (c. ... Christopher Beeston (c. ... Categories: Actor stubs | 1567 births | 1619 deaths ... Henry Condell was an actor in the Kings Men, the playing company for which William Shakespeare wrote. ... Nathaniel Field (1587 - 1620), was an English dramatist and actor; his father was the Puritan preacher John Field and his brother became the Bishop of Llandaff. ... John Heminges was an actor in the Kings Men, the playing company for which William Shakespeare wrote. ... Thomas Heywood (died approx. ... William Kempe (also spelled Kemp) (fl. ... William Rowley was an English Jacobean dramatist, best known for works written in collaboration with more successful writers. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Richard Tarlton (d. ...

Other significant people

• George Buc, Master of the Revels 1609 - 1622
• Cuthbert Burbage, entrepreneur
• James Burbage, entrepreneur
• Philip Henslowe, entrepreneur
• Francis Langley, entrepreneur
• Edmund Tilney, Master of the Revels 1579 - 1609

Sir George Buck (died 1622) was an antiquarian who served as Master of the Revels to King James I of England. ... Master of the Revels was an office within the British royal household that originally had minor responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... James Burbage (d. ... Philip Henslowe (c 1550 - January 6, 1616) was an Elizabethan theatrical entrepreneur. ... Edmund Tilney, Master of the Revels. ... Master of the Revels was an office within the British royal household that originally had minor responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities. ...

List of playhouses

• The Theatre
• The Curtain
• The Rose
• The Swan
• The Globe
• The Fortune

This article is about one specific theatre in London; for information on theatres in general, see Theater. ... The Curtain Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse. ... The Rose was an Elizabethan theatre. ... A 1596 sketch of a performance in progress on the platform or apron stage of the Swan. ... The rebuilt Globe Theatre, London The Globe Theatre normally refers to one of three theatres in London associated with William Shakespeare. ... The Fortune Theatre is the name of two very different theatres Fortune Theatre, England The 20th Century Venue The Fortune Theatre located in Russell Street, Covent Garden in London, was opened in 1924 and stands on the site of the old Albion Tavern. ...

List of playing companies

• The Admiral's Men
• The King's Men
• The Lord Chamberlain's Men
• The Queen's Men
• Worcester's Men

The Admirals Men were a theatre company in the Elizabethan era, an example of Elizabethan theatre. ... It has been suggested that Lord Chamberlains Men be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Kings Men (playing company). ... Queen Annes Men, or the Queens Men, was a Jacobean theatrical company. ...

External links

• Shakespeare and the Globe from Encyclopaedia Britannica; a more comprehensive resource on the theatre of this period than its name suggests.