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The 16th Century Theatre (Britain)
What is it? The 16th century theatre was a way of entertainment for the people of England. James Burbage built the very first theatre in 1576 with his brother-in-law John Brayne, appropriately named 'The Theatre'. Why was it so popular? As drama shifted from a religious to a secular function in society, playwrights and poets were among the leading artists of the day. Toward the end of the sixteenth century, the popularity of plays written by scholars such as Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene, John Lyly, and Thomas Lodge led to the building of theaters and to the development of companies of actors, both professional and amateur.

Actors: In Shakespeare’s time acting was a profession only open to boys and men. Women were acting elsewhere in Europe but they were not allowed to perform in public theaters in England until 1660. In an Elizabethan production boys would play the female parts, like Ophelia in Hamlet or Desdemona in Othello, whilst occasionally men would play the older women.

Props : Many Props and Special Effects were used to enhance the dramatic and visual effects of plays performed at the Globe Theater. The better the spectacle, the bigger the audiences and the greater the profit - much like the modern theater we enjoy today.

Costumes : The Globe Theatre Costumes were fabulous - sumptuous materials, vivid colors and extremely costly. The costumes did not always reflect the correct period of the Play. The Globe actors generally wore the dress of their own time. Some were specifically made for the actors and some were donated by rich patrons. The Globe plays had to be produced in a great hurry in order to ensure a rapid turnover of new material and performances for the insatiable Elizabethan audience and to beat the competition from rival theatres.

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