During the Elizabethan period, Britain was politically stable, economically prosperous, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. It was a golden age in British history. The British Renaissance was mainly reflected in the literary works of the Elizabethan period. At this time, Shakespeare, Marlowe and other great masters were active in the literary world. The cultural life of the British was more colorful than before. leisure and entertainment activities.
In the early days of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, the troupe still inherited the tradition of performing wherever it went and where there was an audience. After the show, put the props and other items in the car and move on to the next place to perform. Wherever the troupe goes, it attracts countless audiences and other casual people who may cause anxiety and confusion; due to the dense crowds, it is easy to cause the spread and spread of diseases, so the British government has legislated to restrict such mobile troupes. Therefore, the troupe had to choose Fixed performance venue. The first theater was the "Amphitheatre" built in 1576, followed by the "Curtain Theater", "Rose Theater", "Swan Theater", "Globe Theater" and "Giant Theater".
Although these theaters have their own characteristics, they have some common features. Theaters are usually three-story structures built around an irregularly shaped open space. The main building materials of the early theaters were wood and lime, and the roofs were generally thatched, so they were prone to fire. For example, the Globe Theater was burned down in 1613. Ticket prices vary by theater seat location. The cheapest location is the open space closest to the stage, where people stand and watch the performance; the more expensive one is the seat a little further away from the stage; the most expensive is the seat directly behind the stage, which may surprise people today. unexpected. Due to the many pillars on the stage, there is almost no place to see the full picture of the stage, so the actors must often move around the stage so that the audience can see the performance from all angles under the stage. Even if the actors try their best to take care of the visual effects, because of the many obstacles, most people can actually only "listen" to the scene rather than "see" the scene.
Listening to the play has naturally high requirements for the script. In addition, in order to reduce costs, the stage sets and props are very simple, and the time, place and scene are clearly explained by lines. The effects created by sound and light in modern dramas need to be expressed in words at that time, all of which are tests for playwrights . It is universally recognized that Shakespeare's dramatic language is very expressive, and the production of these great plays is closely related to the poor performance conditions at that time. Not only are the performance conditions simple, but the actors' costumes are also relatively simple. If it is a historical drama, only the main actor wears clothes with historical characteristics, and the other actors wear Elizabethan clothes; if it is about what happened in the Elizabethan period, the costumes are much simpler, and the clothes people usually wear are enough. However, the British government at that time strictly stipulated the dress code of different social classes. What if there were noble characters in the play? The nobles supported theatrical performances very much. They gave their unused clothes to the troupe, but they could only be on the stage during the performance. It is illegal to wear it.
"Jane" is also reflected in the actors. Judging by today's standards, a performance company had a small number of actors at that time, generally including five to nine adult actors and four or five little boys. All actors are male, including female figures are played by young male actors or little boys, and women are not allowed to perform on stage. Due to the small number of actors and the large number of characters appearing in the play, it is common for one person to play multiple characters. In order not to confuse the audience, when the same actor plays another role, it is necessary to explain that this is another character.
According to current etiquette rules, to watch a play in a theater, dress formally and keep quiet, and applaud at the right time, but that was not the case at the time. Theatrical performances in the Elizabethan period were generally held in the afternoon. People crowded into the theater with food, and the cheapest place was the open space near the stage. People stood and watched, where the audience and the stage performances communicated most actively. place. If the audience is dissatisfied with the performance, they will throw rotten fruit or other sundries on the stage, and may also make rude words; if the impatient person thinks that his performance is better than that of the actor, he will simply go on the stage and perform it himself. If the quality of the play is not high or the performance of the actors is not in place, the standing seats become very lively, and sometimes the scene is difficult to control. The atmosphere of the theater at that time was somewhat similar to that of today's pop song concerts, with audiences enjoying, participating and expressing their emotions. Although women are not allowed to act, they can watch the show. Some female audience members do not want to be recognized, so they cover part of their faces with masks.
The performance conditions provided by the theater and the audience's reaction affect the playwright's creation to a certain extent. The writer should develop a fascinating storyline on a simple stage, attract the audience with vivid and pleasant language, and impress the audience with distinctive characters. The basic creative techniques produced during this period had an important and far-reaching influence on later British dramas.
Drama was deeply loved by the British people at that time, and many illiterate people also enjoyed it, either feeling the joys and sorrows of the characters, or revisiting major events in history. The Queen herself is keen on theatre, and the British government also regards theatre as an important propaganda venue. In the 1680s, Elizabeth I and King Philip II of Spain were in constant conflict, and Alarum for London, a drama about Spanish soldiers hurting innocent civilians in Antwerp, was staged many times.
In a word, going to the theatre was an important leisure activity in the Elizabethan period. The dramas born during this period shone brightly in the treasure house of English literature. Today, people are still performing, appreciating and studying these works and feeling the charm of language. and historical changes.
.jpeg)
