Playhouses 1500-1700

"Churches, theatres, markets—these were among the places John Norden assumed a visitor to London would want to see. They were among the destinations of Londoner’s daily lives as well. These were the places where people mixed with different interests, agendas, and roles. From those mixtures emerged a new sense of community, new ways of doing business, and new beliefs and outlooks" (Open City). 

During the 16th and 17th Centuries, London’s theatres served as booming hubs where all of those in search of drama came to enjoy the works of timely playwrights. Performances took place in open air playhouses where the rich and poor gathered in the “earliest purpose-built spaces for English drama” (Playhouses). However, the celebration of English drama and popularity was fleeting, but the manuscripts and texts that survived even presently shed a great deal of insight on the theatre itself (some of which we are analyzing in the course).

London’s outdoor, public playhouses began being built just before Shakespeare, one of the most renowned playwrights, started writing his first plays in the 1590s. Generally being considered the first of its kind is the Theatre, which was built in 1576. Along with being recognized as the first public playhouse, the Theatre also possesses a history rich in change.

“In 1598, Shakespeare’s acting company was threatened by difficulties in renewing the lease on the land occupied by the Theatre, its first theater” (London Playhouses and Other Sites). These complications led to it ultimately being torn down and rebuilt as a new theatre across the Thames. What was once known as the Theatre became recognized as the Globe with plays beginning at its new location just a year later.  In fact, the Globe that we are going to see The Tempest and Macbeth at was burned down in 1613 but was thankfully rebuilt immediately after.

Of course the Globe isn't the only notable theatre of the time. "[The Rose], another open-air playhouse, was built by Philip Henslowe in 1587. In the course of the 1590s , the Swan and the Globe would follow, with the Hope opening in 1614" (Open City). 

    

The location of public playhouses is also something that should be noted. “Playhouses were built outside the city of London because many civic officials were hostile to the performance of drama” (London Playhousesand Other Sites). Popular public playhouses include the Curtain, the Fortune, the Rose, the Swan, the Globe, and the Hope. These are either located north of London or on the Bankside south of London. With playing being banned in 1584 (inside the city's jurisdiction), the benefits of the playhouses being located outside of the city were obvious. 

While the public playhouses enjoyed a brief (yet lively) peak, many different factors contributed to the lessening in popularity. Some of these factors included: “crowd control”, “moralists condemning the pretense at the heart of acting”, and “the bawdiness and innuendo for which the drama was known”. (Playhouses). As a result, these playhouses began to get shut down in the 1640s due to a series of parliamentary acts.