THEATRES IN SHAKESPEARE'S TIME

If you had visited London's Globe Theatre at the start of the 17th century, you would have seen plays performed there by Shakespeare's theatrical company. The theatre itself was a circular open-air building with gallery seating for those that could afford it. The stage extended out into the 'yard' where the poorer members of the audience would have stood. They were noisy, usually rowdy and often drunk.

Performances took place in daylight accompanied by music and sound effects, with just a few props and no scenery. The actors (all male, as women were not permitted to appear on stage at this time) played a variety of roles in each play, with the female roles being taken mainly by boys, who would also have played other parts such as children, fairies or imps. The cast would usually have worn contemporary dress regardless of the play's historical period (although in this website it has been assumed that historical costume was available when required).

When Shakespeare wasn't writing or helping run the theatre you might well have seen him performing on stage. No record of any performance by Shakespeare exists today, but as a member of a small theatre company we can be certain that his services as an actor would often have been required.

The quotation at the top of the page is from the Prologue of Henry V. Use the links below to see illustrations of a typical theatre and a typical stage of Shakespeare's time.