Topic > The Renaissance Era and William Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Theatrical plays have always been a major entertainment attraction throughout the ages. The Renaissance era was a revival of European interest in the arts, exploration, and technology. The period was extremely important as it came at the best possible time in history for the rise of Renaissance theaters. Many features of amphitheaters have been imitated over the years. One of the greatest playwrights is William Shakespeare. He staged some of the most famous plays of all time at the Globe Theatre. The development of plays and the structure of performances in Renaissance amphitheatres, including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, still continue to influence modern theatre. The Renaissance was an artistic and scientific era that sparked social, economic, and political changes in Europe that lasted from 1350 until the 16th century. The revival of art led to the revival of dramatic literature for the entertainment of the people. The first Globe Theatre, founded in 1599, was located on the bank of the Thames. The river increased the irresistible attraction of the theater's beauty. The building was constructed using timber from an earlier amphitheatre, simply called The Theatre, which was assembled in 1576. The Globe was located near London Bridge; near Park Street and Southwark. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Other major theaters such as the Swan, the Rose, and the Hope were also built in the area. The rise and development of theaterology has been linked to the Renaissance era due to the revival of arts and literature. These interests were centered on Greek and Roman literature. On the other hand, Shakespeare's popularity led to greater numbers of visitors being attracted to the Globe Theater and its occasional performances at court. As a result of his admiration, more people were introduced to theater productions. The architecture of the early theaters was used to improve the newly designed theaters. The details presented in the performances were very important to the quality of the show. Props in particular included crowns, banners, swords, animal organs, and other realistic additions. The wild, visual experience created a warning about the consequences of real scenes. Scenes of brutal entertainment and executions used animal organs donated by slaughterhouses to create a real-life experience for the bystander crowd. The Globe's audience was made up of earthlings, the middle class, and the privileged. The Earthlings stood in the courtyard of the amphitheater and had no shelter from the sun, rain and other natural events. They were also at risk of muscle strain and neck pain from the viewing angle of the stage. When the gallery was crowded, viewers expected a two-by-two-foot area. People were much shorter, so today the amount of space would be very uncomfortable with so little legroom for anyone. The middle class sat lower, on wooden benches, in the stands. The wooden benches did not have wooden backs, so they often had back pain after two to four hours of sitting during a show. If those who paid pennies for a bourgeois seat arrived too late, they would remain in the courtyard together with the earthlings. The privileged paid top dollar to sit on or directly on the stage. Actors in Elizabethan theaters were seen as unreliable and dubious. They were often accused of being thieves and vagrants. As the popularity of theater grew over the years, many actors became very wealthy in their careers and were able to perform in front of royalty. The Globeit was an open theater, three stories high. The structure was 100 feet in diameter with 3,000 seats available. Shakespeare's Globe Theater had columns that aided the roof. On the roof there was a painting of blue skies and clouds. People called that painting “the sky”. Many other theaters have replicated the theater's look. Julius Pomponius concentrated on a large but slightly raised stage with curtains falling behind it. The first professional theaters also adopted this system. By the 1540s, three-dimensional paintings were used as backdrops creating a realistic experience for audiences. At the same time, the first use of “upstage,” meaning further away from the audience, and “downstage,” meaning toward the audience, was used in theater history. In June 1613, the Globe caught fire when a propeller cannon fired and hit the wooden beams and thatched roof. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Globe was later built taking more than a year to finish. The building was rebuilt so quickly so as not to lose the interest of spectators. In 1642 the Puritans announced that all theaters would be destroyed, including Shakespeare's Globe. The Globe was demolished in 1644. However, in 1949, Sam Wanamaker was credited with rebuilding the new Globe Theatre. Londoners have remembered his works since the 1800s, when 9% of his exhibitions in London used his ideas. Even though he is down 17% from his peak fame, he has much more than his opponents. UK Theater Web listings estimate that 5% of all plays since 2000 have been by Shakespeare. It is truly astonishing to see Shakespeare compete so impressively with thousands of modern writers. At the same time, the Renaissance era transformed traditional writings into a more accurate representation for readers and viewers. Many factors of the Renaissance improved the quality of today's literature with humanistic and classical works. Ultimately these concepts have had a positive impact on social, cultural, scientific and intellectual levels. The structure of a play has changed dramatically over time. These ideas are currently shaping future literature and how it will be presented. Works CitedAllison, Amy. Shakespeare's Globe. Lucent Books, 2000. Barker, Clive and Howard Bay. “The Elizabethan stage”. Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopœdie Britannica, Inc., 14 November 2018, https://www.britannica.com/art/theater-building/The-Elizabethan-stage. Accessed 7 November 2019. “Elizabethan Actors.” Elizabethan Actors, http://m.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-actors.htm. Accessed November 7, 2019. “Greatness was entrusted to him; Shakespeare. The Economist, October 26, 2019, #81.Gale One File:Business, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A603668378/GPS?u=tel_s_tsla&sid=GPS&xid=3b9309ce. Accessed November 4, 2019. Hildy, Franklin J. “Renaissance.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopœdia Britannica, Inc., November 28, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/art/threatre-design/Renaissance. Accessed November 7, 2019. “How Has the Renaissance Influenced Modern Society” eNotes Editorial, February 15, 2017, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-do-you-think-renaissance-period-influenced- our-482168. Accessed 7 November 2019. Jamieson, Lee. "The Influence of the Renaissance on Shakespeare's Work." Thought Co, July 29, 2019, https://www.thinkedco.com/renaissance-shakespeares-time-2984986. Accessed November 4, 2019. McAfarno."Shakespeare Theatre." Folger Shakespeare Library, September 23, 2019, https://www.folger.edu/shakespeares-threater. Accessed 31 October 2019. “Renaissance and Reformation”. Gale In Context online collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: 2019, 2019.