WEEK 4 - THEATRES, ACTORS AND ACTING IN SHAKESPEARE’

When writing plays, you would have to consider the several different places it would be performed, this meant that plays had to be versatile in the way they were staged. This is perhaps evident in Shakespeare's plays as there are very few stage directions other than characters leaving and entering. Most of the action is in the dialogue, which is why it is possible to adapt Shakespeare's plays into so many settings.

All roles would be played by men, the industry was exclusively male. the audience would enjoy the music and glamorous costumes especially, there were favourite characters that would be cheered as they entered. The stage was practically bare, the setting was shown through the actors vivid imagery in the dialogue. This is also why Shakespeare would have had to include action in the dialogue, as this was the audiences core indicator as to what was going on. The globe was burnt down during a performance of Henry VIII, it was rebuilt in 1619.

Outdoor theatres could be an amazing experience but were very vunreable to weather conditions. After years of trying to get one, in 1609 Shakespeare and his company finally obtained an indoor theatre, taking over the Blackfriars theatre. Plays in indoor venues housed fewer and cost more, six pence for an average seat, twenty four shillings to sit on the side of the stage.

It cost a penny to stand in the theatre, and two pennies to have a balcony seat. Its difficult to find out what a penny would be worth now, but back then four pennies would have supplied food and drink for an average civilian. 

Being an actor in Shakespeare's time was very physically demanding, your voice may have to project so that 3000 people can hear you over the social conversations and popping of wine bottles. The audience also expected the actors to sing, dance and perform vigorous athletic dances. Acting seemed more like jesting than it does today, the prime objective of plays was to entertain, where as now they could be for a range of reasons.
Costume were of massive significance in plays, a large portion of the budget was dedicated to costume. I think this is because this was the most developed technology of the time, where as now costume may be overshadowed by fancy lighting and set, but back then options were limited but costume could be explored and shown off.