CORRECTION "The theatre in Shakespeare's time"

 

The theatre in Shakespeare’s time

Authors wrote plays for the masses, especially those who couldn’t ____read_______

The theatre (GB)/ theater (US) changed a lot during Shakespeare’s lifetime. The authorities didn’t like it and didn’t allow acting in the city itself. They thought it had a bad ___influence____________ on people and kept them from going to church.____Queen Elizabeth______________, on the other hand, loved acting and helped the theatre become popular.

Shakespeare’s theatre was full of life. People did not sit all the time and it was not quiet during the _____performance________________________. The ___audience______________ could walk around, eat and drink during the play. They cheered, _booed____________and sometimes even threw objects at the actors.

Theatres were open arenas or playhouses that had room for up to three thousand people. They were structures made mainly of ____wood___________. There was no heating and actors got wet when it rained. The stage was higher and there was an open ___pit_______ in front of it where most of the people could stand in. Richer people and noblemen sat in the gallery. There was almost no scenery because the dialogue was the most important part of the play. Colourful and well-designed costumes were very important and told the people about the status of a character. ____Women_____________never performed in plays, so young boys played _____female______ characters. The performances took place in the afternoon because it was too dark at night.

There was no _______stage____ ___crew________as there is today. Actors had to do everything themselves - from making costumes to setting the stage.

Plays were organized by acting companies. They performed about 6 different plays each week because they needed money to survive. They had almost no time for _rehearsals_________________.

The companies in Shakespeare’s time had a hierarchical system.

• The company belonged to shareholders and mangers. They were responsible for everything and got most of the money when the company was successful. Sometimes they even owned there own buildings.
• Actors worked for the managers and after some time became a permanent member of the company.
• ______apprentices_______________were young boys were allowed to act in menial roles. They also played females characters in plays.

_____Lord Chamberlain’s Men____________________  and the Admiral’s Men were the two most important companies in ____London______________at that time. Among the most famous theatres during were ____The Swan____________, ____The Globe____________  and the Fortune.