What was life like at the theater

The play houses of the Elizabethan times compared to today can hardly compare. In Elizabethan times all theaters were outside to allow sun in and provide light for the actors on stage. None of the plays had an intermission so many people just relived themselves on the ground, of course so would you if you had to hold it four hours. Today at theaters like the Guthrie and the Children’s Theater they are indoor and air conditioned and of course have intermissions to go to the bathroom. However not all the theater was sooo bad some could pay to sit up in the rafters and for a bit more money they could rent a cushion to sit on. Some called the “groundlings” had to stand in front of the stage which may sound like a good place to be but there is no seating for about four hours. Now days when you go to the theater all seats are padded and cushioned maybe not the most comfortable but still better than bare wood or standing.

Sources
Amanda Mabillard, “Shakespear.” Shakespeare’s Theatres. Online. Internet. October 24 2007. Available: http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatre/

How theatres were built.

Shakespeare had many theatres but, the main structures were designed in similar ways. Most of them were in a polygonal shape, they had three-story timber structure, which was in most cases let in the sun and rain. The outside was painted/coated with plaster and lime. They contained galleries, upper rooms, a tiring house, and trap doors in the stage floor. There were also two stair cases and most of the time people would have to stand when they watched the play(s).

Biography:
Mabillard, Amanda. “Home of Shakespeare’s troupe, the Chamberlain’s Men. Online. Internet. 10/24/2007. Available: http://shakespeare.about.com/od/studentresources/a/woodeno.htm

The Theater's of London And the English Contryside

Many theaters and playhouses were built in Shakespeare’s time. The top four most popular were named The Theater, The Globe theater, The Curtain, and lastly the Rose.
The first theater built in London was named The Theater. It was built in 1576 by James Burbage (a wealthy English actor and entrepreneur), it was located in the northern suburb of London on the edge of Finsbury Fields. Following the construction of The Theater was a playhouse named the Curtain. It was built next to the theater but wasn’t as popular. It was finished one year after the Theater was built.
The third theater built in 1587. Named the Rose, it had a very hard time keeping up with the Globe which was built in 1599. They stood next to each other on the south side of Thames. Unlike the Rose, The Globe was the most elaborate and was the primary spot for Shakespeare’s acting company. But due to a misfired cannon, it burned down but was re-built within a year. This time it was built with a tiled roof.
These were four of the most popular playhouses and theaters in London and the English countryside.

The source~
Mabillard, Amanda. "Shakespeare's Theatres." Shakespeare Online. 24 Oct. 2007. <>.

Who attented the theatre, and what an outing at the theatre was like..

People who attended Shakespeare's theatre consisted of tanners, butchers, iron-workers, millers, sailors, glovers, servants, shopkeepers, wig-makers, bakers, and many other tradesman and their families. The groundlings were the more poor audience members who paid one penny to sit in the front of the stage, and often weren't treated with respect. The wealthier audience members sat in covered galleries, and usually paid a half a crown for each seat. An outing at a theatre was very uncomfortable for most. With no intermissions or restrooms, people often just went to the bathroom on the ground. Plays often lasted several hours and were the dreadful part of attending these Shakespeare masterpieces.

Source~ http://shakespeare.about.com/cs/homeworkhelp/a/audience.htm
"Shakespeare's Audience"
By Amanda Mabillard
Oct. 24 2007