The document summarizes the history of English Renaissance theater from the early 1600s. It describes how only royalty were allowed to form acting troupes initially, but then several prominent troupes emerged, including the Earl of Leicester's Men led by James Burbage and the Lord Admiral's Men led by Philip Henslowe. It also discusses the building of the first theaters like The Theatre and The Globe in London, as well as details about the operations of theatrical companies, costs of attendance, and conventions of costumes and scene design during this time period.

2.  1604 – law passed saying only royalty
can form an acting troupe
› Queen Elizabeth: 4-5 plays/year
› James (cousin): 17 plays/year
› Prince Charles: 25 plays/year
 Earl of Licester’s Men (pronounced Lester)
› Led by James Burbage
 The Lord Admiral’s Men

3.  Earl of Licester’s Men (pronounced Lester)
› Led by James Burbage
 Best Producer/Manager of the time
› Used a theatre called “The Theatre”
 The Lord Admiral’s Men
› Led by Henslowe
› Plays by Christopher Marlowe
› Lead actor was Edward Alleyn
 The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (The King’s Men)
› Led by James Burbage
› Plays by Shakespeare
› Lead actor was Richard Burbage (James’ son)
› Comic actor was Will Kempe

4.  The Chapel Boys
› Later called “The Queen’s Revels”
 The Beasten Boys
› Led by Beasten
 Many playwrights write plays for the
children’s companies, but not
Shakespeare.

5.  Shareholder
› As Shareholder in the Globe, Shakespeare made
50 pounds/year
 Hired Men
› On contract for 1-2 years; 5 pounds/year
 Apprentices
› From 6 to 14 years old
› Played young women until their voice changes
 Either change profession or play men afterwards
› Paid with room and board
 Older/Comic women played by adult men
 Prompters fed actor’s their lines

6.  The Theatre (Burbage)
› First permanent outdoor theatre
 The Blackfriars (Burbage)
› first permanent indoor theatre
 The Globe (Burbage)
› Burnt down and rebuilt many times
 The Swan, The Rose, The Hope, The Swan, The
Bear Garden
 Most of London is on the East Bank of the
Thames, but most of the theatres are on the
West bank.

7.  The Globe Theatre (1599-1613)
› Burnt down during a performance of Henry
VIII
 The Second Globe (1614-1644)
› Burnt down during the reformation
 The Third Globe (1980s-present)

8. Plays started
at 2 in the
afternoon to
catch the
daylight, and
performed
without
intermission.

9. FLOOR SEAT BOX
Outdoor 1p 2p 3p
Indoor 6p ? Up to 46p
The Queen would attend indoor theatres,
but not outdoor ones.
Goodies would be sold to people
standing in the pit, called
“Groundlings.”

10.  5 types of costumes:
› Ancient
 anything older/out of style
› Antique
 Classical – togas over clothes
› Fanciful
 Ghosts, Sprites, Witches, Gods
› Traditional
 Robin Hood, Tambourlaine Richard III
› National/Racial
 Moors wore turbans, Jews had red beards,
Spaniards wore all black

11.  Famous Scene Designer
› Very minimal sets
 a branch represents a forest
 Stressed the importance of stage
combat, music, and dance in
performances