William Shakespeare 1564-1616 1616 All the world 's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players. Shakespeare s s Birthplace Shakespeare was born in Stratford- upon-avon in 1564. His father was a glove maker, landowner, money lender, and agricultural commodities dealer. Anne Hathaway s s Cottage At age 18, married Anne Hathaway, eight years older than he. Susanna, was born six months later, and twins, Hamnet and Judith born three years later. By 1592, Shakespeare living in London, well-known as a playwright.
Holy Trinity Church Probably the place of Shakespeare s baptism, Holy Trinity graces the Avon River in Stratford. Shakespeare was buried in the chancel in 1616. Holy Trinity Chancel Shakespeare s s bust looks down on the floor of the chancel where Shakespeare is buried.
Biography continued Moved Moved to London- 1586 Acted Wrote plays- 37 Comedies- A Midsummer Night s s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing Tragedies- Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth Romances- Historical dramas- Henry VI, Richard III, Julius Caesar Wrote poems- 154 (sonnets) Why England is Protestant? Henry VIII married to Catherine of Aragon Have Have only one child (a girl), Mary Pope Pope will not annul marriage because Catherine s brother is Phillip II, King of Spain Henry Henry breaks with Catholic Church and authorizes his own divorce Marries Anne Boleyn Has Has Daughter Elizabeth, still a girl Officially Officially beheaded for adultery and treason, unofficially for failure to produce a male heir. Marries Jane Seymour Dies Dies giving birth to Edward, Henry s s only son Why England is Protestant, Cont.? Marries a couple more women, but has no more children 1547 Henry VIII dies 1547 Edward I becomes king, lives short time 1553 Mary becomes Queen, tries to Re- Catholicize England, but doesn t t live long enough 1558 Elizabeth becomes Queen, must be Protestant or is illegitimate and illegible to reign
1603 King James I Elizabethan Fashion It s time to don your doublet!
Tighten your trussing! Get on your galligaskins! Females, fit on your farthingales!
Smooth your stomachers! Remember your ruffs! Slip on your shoes! And grab your gloves!
Gentlemen? Ladies? Wenceslaus Hollar's Long View of London 1647 This part of the Long View shows the playhouses on the Southbank of the Thames. The labels on the Globe and the 'beere' bayting h[ouse]' - the Beargarden,, were interchanged in engraving the plate. The Guildhall Library, Corporation of London (U.K.) Globe Theatre The Globe theatre by Wenceslaus Hollar (1647) The Guildhall Library, Corporation of London
The Globe Theater s s History Built in 1599 by the Chamberlain's Company, on the Southern shore of the Thames River. Shakespeare member of the Chamberlain's Company, shareholder in the theater. Profits actors made their main means of supporthis plays worth very little, ended up as property of the acting company Globe Stage The rectangular stage platform on which the plays were performed was nearly 43 feet wide and 28 feet deep. This staging area probably housed trap doors in its flooring and primitive rigging overhead for various stage effects. The Globe Theater 1599 Burned in 1613
The New Globe Theater 1999 All men Limited set/scenery Few scene changes Many props Sound effects Elaborate costumes RankRank Profession Affiliation A Performance Music by orchestra in pit During daylight hours Limited length Close proximity The Business of Being Shakespeare Part-owner of Globe Theatre. Head of King s s Men. Playwright and actor. Competition Tough: others try to steal plays; no copyright laws. Copy-cat plays. Actors received only their lines (to prevent whole play from being stolen). Scribes make all copies by hand. Public officials don t t like Theatre atmosphere. Occasional plagues or civil trouble can shut down theatre. Martin Droeshout's engraving of Shakespeare, from First Folio, 1623.
The Business of Being an Actor Only men could be an actor; disrespectable occupation for women. Young male teens played female roles. Actors played several parts in several plays during a single season. Each Season: 30 different plays some old, some new. All parts memorized. Actors speak in own accents and wear contemporary costumes. Colors in Costumes: hints to crowd about character (Ex: Macbeth wears scarlet cloak over dark clothing; Lady Macbeth in black). The Business of Being a Troop Full Globe proceeds: 20 pounds British Sterling. Winter: Theatre closed no proceeds. Christmas Season: Royal Productions for James I. Production for King Proceeds: 10 pounds British Sterling, but chance of lavish gifts. Winter Season: Private performances for rich patrons in their mansions. Actor s s Troop needed big endorsements to support production best came from the Royal Court. The Business of Being Number One (Macbeth at second set of prophesies.) James I: Liked and endorsed Shakespeare s s troop: became King s s Men (formerly Lord Chamberlain s s Men). (William Blake, Portrait of Shakespeare, c. 1800-1803). Competition fierce from several acting troops (including all children groups). Endorsements Necessary for Costs: upkeep of theatre, fees salaries, props, costumes (second most expensive cost). Costumes purchased or rich patrons donated only to best productions.