A variety of things were done in order to establish the theatre as a permanent stone structure, including erecting outside the city walls. The first step is usually described as having been taken by M. Fulvius Flaccus, who in 180 B.C. began to build a theatre on the bank of the River Tiber near what is now called Circus Flavius. When this was completed, another was begun about three-quarters of a mile away from the first. This second theatre was also built in 180 B.g and was designed by L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, one of Caesar's assassins. He had been quaestor at the time of Flaccus' death and had charge of the latter's project until it was finished.
The third and final theatre was built by Gaius Mucius Scaevola in 190 B.C. It was two miles beyond the other two in position but only half as big. This was probably because most people lived within walking distance of the city limits and so went to see plays in the vicinity of their homes. There was no need for a large theater in any one town since each one could hold many thousands of people.
All three theatres were made of brick, which was easy to get hold of and cheap.
This functioned as the city's entertainment and gathering place. Pompeii had two stone theatres of its own approximately two decades before Rome built the first permanent stone theatre in the 50s BCE. During the rule of the Roman Empire, the majority of the theatres were converted into gladiatorial arenas. Here, slaves and prisoners of war were put to death in public view for the amusement of the crowds.
There are more than 100 sites around the world that have been identified as theatrical venues based on their architecture. The most important site is undoubtedly Pompeii where evidence of at least six different theatres has been found. Each one was about 20 feet long and 10 feet wide with a flat floor and wall decorations. There were no sets or costumes used by the actors, only characters drawn on the human body with tattoos or painted on masks. The audience sat on chairs placed in the front row next to the stage. They could eat and drink during the show but not while it was going on because this would have distracted them from the action.
The early Greek and Roman theatres were not designed for comfort. They often had very hot and humid conditions inside due to the lack of air conditioning and there were no intermissions. Many people went to the theatre to socialize and have a good time so if you suffer from illness or are pregnant, then these places might not be for you.
Streete and his crew erected the theatre's brick foundation. The walls were built with large timber frames and filled with smaller slats of wood coated with cow hair plaster. The floors are made of wood shingles.
The Globe had a thatched roof, although this may have been removed before Shakespeare arrived in London.
The theatre was about 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep, with open sides and a flat floor. It could hold up to 1500 people.
There were no curtains at the Globe; instead, actors wore costumes that changed according to the play they were performing in. Also, there were no stage props except for one small room where musicians could be hidden away from view.
The audience sat on wooden benches with space between each bench for someone to squeeze in if needed. There were no reserved seats at the Globe - anyone who paid their money could come in and watch the performance.
There were no lights at the Globe Theatre. Instead, there were torches carried by attendants who walked through the audience giving people light to read by or music to dance by. This must have been quite a experience since we know that people used candles at night because there are descriptions in sources such as books and newspapers about how difficult it was to see anything during performances.
Timber, nails, stone (flint), plaster, and thatched roofs were utilized in the building of Elizabethan theatres. The "pit" or "yard" was an open-air arena in the amphitheatre in the design of Elizabethan theatres. The Elizabethan stage was projected halfway into the "pit." Its appearance is described as "a little platform at a time raised by means of steps, on which stood the actors who played certain parts." The rest of the "pit" was filled with people sitting on benches or standing in groups. There were no seats except for those benches.
The actor's platform could be moved around the "pit" to different spots for different scenes. At the end of each act the whole stage was lowered into its original position below the level of the yard and all signs of activity ceased. The audience then filed out through the exit at the back of the theatre.
Elizabethan theatres were usually built adjacent to churches or town halls where there were already large rooms available. Sometimes several theatres would be built over several years in the same town. Although they were expensive, these splendid buildings remained popular until well into the 17th century.
There are still many towns in England that have a reconstructed Elizabethan theatre inside a modern cinema complex. These are often called "Cinemas of England".
In conclusion, Elizabethan theatres were built entirely of wood, steel, and magic!
The Structure and Style of Elizabethan Theatre The theatres were either octagonal or circular in design, with 8 to 24 sides and a diameter of roughly 100 feet. The roofs of the amphitheaters were tiled. Aside from it, construction materials such as nails, wood, flint stones, plaster, and thatched roofs were employed. The amphitheatres were used for both tragedy and comedy. They were located near cities around England, but most were closed by 1660 in favor of buildings more suitable for indoor performances.
The first recorded drama in England took place in 1532. It was called "The Play of the White Hood" and was written and performed by English students at the University of Cambridge. Since then, theatre has become a popular art form in England. There are several different types of productions: musicals, plays, cabarets, revues... The choice of production depends on the director who wants to express himself through his work.
Elizabeth I was born on April 25th, 1533. She was the only child of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Her mother died when she was young, and her father married Anne Boleyn a few years later. But he still wanted a son who would be king after him, so he had Jane Seymour replace Anne Boleyn on the throne. When Jane also gave birth to a son, Edward, Henry decided to put aside all royal marriages without an agreement from their partners and married Catherine Parr instead!
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