History
The primary importance of theatre to the Elizabethans was its entertainment value. During Queen Elizabeth's reign, theatre became more structured and organized, and as a result, permanent structures were built, about 17 theatres were constructed during this period.
Characteristics
Elizabethan plays commonly consisted of dialogue that was poetic, dramatic, and heightened beyond that of the vernacular of the day. While often the lower class characters' speech was somewhat colloquial (prose), upper-class characters spoke stylized, rhythmic speech patterns (verse).
The main features of an Elizabethan theatre
- The theatre was open and plays had to be performed in daylight.
- A flag would be flown from the top of the theatre to show a play was going to be performed.
- People sat around the stage in galleries.
- The cheapest place was in front of the stage where ordinary people stood. They were known as ‘groundlings’.
- There was very little scenery – a character would tell the audience where the scene was set.
- Women’s parts were played by boys.
- Long speeches gave actors a chance to change their clothes.
- There was generally plenty of violence in the plays – Tudor audiences loved it.
