What is Elizabethan Theater:
The dramaturgical production that took place in England from the accession of Elizabeth I to the throne in 1558 until the death of her successor, James I, in 1625 is known as Elizabethan theater. Some authors extend the period until the year 1642, during the reign of Charles I, when the Puritans closed the theaters in England.
Elizabethan theater was influenced by the Anglican Schism of 1534, which promoted secular theater to the detriment of religious theater. The entry into force of a law that punished traveling comedians also had an influence. This law required actors to join a formal institution or noble house as a condition for practicing the profession.
As a consequence of this law, patronage of the performing arts developed and the formation of theater companies such as The Admiral’s Men, The King’s Men, Queen Anne’s Men, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Worcester’s Men, The Lord Admiral’s Servants, and The Earl was encouraged. of Leicester’s Men, among others. The formation of companies favored the construction of their respective theater headquarters. This is how The Swan, The Theater and The Globe theaters appeared.
Background of Elizabethan theater
Pageant14th century: it is a medieval tradition of mobile floats that staged biblical stories for popular education in the faith
Morality plays, 15th century: moralizing plays that replace the naturalism of previous theater with the use of allegories about virtues and sin. For example: The Pride of the Life and The Castle of Perseverance.
Interludesearly 16th century: works for small spaces and a select audience produced by traveling companies and focused on secular themes.
Characteristics of the Elizabethan theater
Popular theater, intended for a heterogeneous audience; Breakdown of the Aristotelian units of time, place and action; Interference of different theatrical genres in a single work; Alternates prose with verse; Mixes noble characters with commoners; All the roles were played by men; Absence of sets; Importance of gestures and vocal projection.
See also:
Main authors of Elizabethan theater
Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe (Canterbury, 1564-1593) was a playwright, poet and translator. He incorporated blank verse into theater. His most famous works were Tamerlane the great, Doctor Faust, The Jew of Malta and Edward II.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (Stratford-on-Avon, 1564-1616) was the distinguished figure of Elizabethan theatre. He is considered responsible for giving theater depth by expressing the complexity of human drama without moralizations, completely breaking with the character of medieval theater. He wrote both comedy and tragedy. Their titles are famous Hamlet, Othello, The Lear King, Romeo and Juliet, Summer night Dream, Much ado About Nothing and The merchant of Venice.
Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson (Westminster 1572-1637) was particularly noted for his comedies. He worked based on satirical and realistic elements. Among some of his works we can point out: The Alchemist, Volpone, Saint Bartholomew’s Fair and The silent woman.