QUESTIONS

1. Where about in London were the Theatres located ? Why ?

2. Name the most important theatres during Elizabethan times.

3. Which was the first playhouse in London ? Who built it ?

4. When was it built ? When was it closed ?

5. Describe the particular shape of the theatres . Where did they take this shape from ?

6. Who controlled the performances on behalf of the government?

7. Why could the theatres be closed down ?

8. Who played the parts of women on stage ? Why ?

9. Did women attend the theatre?

10. How much did it cost to stand in the yard ? And to sit in a gallery ? And to have a cushion ?And to sit in the lords’ room ?

ANSWERS

1. The Theatres are located near the river Thames because is important to have water near for the fire.

2. Fortune, Globe, Hope, Red Bull, Rose, Swan, Theatre and the Whitefriars Theatre.

3. The teatre was the first public playhouse of London, located in the parish of St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch. It was designed and built by James Burbage.

4. The Theatre was constructed in 1576, it have been built as early as 1575. They dismantled the theatre on the night of 28 December 1598. 

5.The shape of the theatre becomes for the Greeks and Romans. Because the people can see and listen.

6. The person who controlled the performances of plays on behalf of the government was the Master of Revels.In the 1590s this was a man called Edmund Tilney.

7. Playhouses could be closed for many reasons, among them outbreaks of the plague, sedition and immorality, which would certainly have included women appearing on stage.

8. Young men, as it was thought immoral for women to act in plays, even to attend the playhouses.

9. Yes, women did attend the theatre although this was not formally approved of. In fact, every level of society went to the plays including apprentices, law students, craftsmen, pickpockets, ballad sellers, merchants and nobility.

Even legend says Queen Elizabeth attended the Globe secretly some times.

10. It cost one penny to stand in the yard of the playhouse and a further penny for a seat in one of the covered galleries. A cushion to make watching the play more comfortable cost a further penny and a seat in the Lords’ room cost approximately sixpence.