Elizabethan Theatre (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
What was the theatre like before the Elizabethan period? - Summary
Before the Elizabethan period, theatre in England was a basic and simple form of entertainment. Actors were often viewed with suspicion and considered lower class and untrustworthy. Consequently, acting troupes lacked the social respect and recognition they would later have.
Theatres before the Elizabethan period were typically held in makeshift venues such as inns courtyards, open fields or temporary stages. Permanent theatres did not exist before the Elizabethan period. Travelling troupes moved from town to town, performing wherever they could attract an audience.
Pre-Elizabethan plays were mainly religious tales or simple farces. It was not until the Elizabethan era, with the creation of permanent theatres like The Globe and the rise of influential playwrights like William Shakespeare, that theatre began to gain prominence and respectability in English society.
Exam Tip
Understanding how different events and themes changed before and during the Elizabethan period is essential for writing the exam questions featured in this course. For example, the “Write an account” and “Explain the importance” questions require you to demonstrate second-order concepts.
Elizabethan theatre
Theatre became increasingly popular during Elizabeth's reign
England had no theatres in 1555
Many local authorities blocked the building of theatres because travelling actors impacted law and order
Some wealthier Elizabethans, known as patrons, decided to support actors
They built theatres where the troupes could perform their plays
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, gave financial and legal support to actors in London
He owned a theatre company called Leicester's Men in 1559
Elizabeth established The Queen's Men in 1583
Elizabeth did not attend the theatre herself
Theatre companies would perform plays for her in the royal court
From 1567, London allowed the building of theatres
The first purpose-built theatre was the Red Lion in Whitechapel
Other prominent Elizabethan theatres include James Burbage's The Theatre (1576), The Rose (1587) and The Globe (1599)
There were many key aspects of Elizabethan theatre:
The theatre's popularity made it a powerful propaganda tool for Elizabeth
She could use the theatre to spread political messages and warn of the dangers of religious conflict
Elizabeth's government introduced censorship of the theatre in 1572
Theatre companies needed the royal licence to operate
A government official read and approved all play scripts in Elizabethan England
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights of all time
Shakespeare wrote for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theatre company
Shakespeare wrote 38 plays including:
histories
tragedies
comedies
Shakespeare's plays supported the monarchy
They supported the “Great Chain of Being”
They were based on themes encouraged by Elizabeth’s government such as good triumphing over evil and monarchy
Shakespeare's plays were performed at The Globe theatre
The Globe was a purpose-built theatre on the south bank of the River Thames in London
Exam Tip
The historical environment question for 2026 will be on The Globe Theatre. You will need more detailed knowledge of Elizabethan theatre and The Globe than is mentioned above. Links to the 16-marker “How far” question and the The Globe historical environment revision notes can be found here.
Why was there opposition towards the theatre?
Although the theatre was very popular, it faced a lot of opposition
Those people who opposed the theatre disliked it for many reasons
Reasons why people in the Elizabethan period opposed the theatre | |
|---|---|
Sinful | The theatre was a place to indulge in alcohol and food |
Immoral | Often prostitutes would be present in the crowd during the plays |
Dangerous | Crime, including pickpocketing, was common at the theatre |
Unhygienic | The theatre attracted large crowds where diseases easily spread |
Ungodly | It was seen by some religious groups, such as Puritans, as a distraction from praying and studying the Bible |
Worked Example
Explain the importance of theatre to Elizabethan England.
[8 Marks]
Partial answer:
The theatre was important to Elizabethan England as it allowed Elizabeth to control the people. All sections of society went to the theatre as ‘the pits’ allowed the lower classes to attend and the hierarchy-tiered seating of theatres, like The Globe, housed the higher social classes. Elizabeth used their popularity as an opportunity to control the population by censoring the plays and playwrights. This was done by the use of partons, such as Robert Dudley. This was important as it helped to prevent rebellions as the plays included themes which supported Elizabeth's reign such as good defeating evil and monarchy. This was shown to be important as before the Essex Rebellion the Earl of Essex attended a play Richard II.
Exam Tip
Above is a partial answer to explain the importance of question. To achieve full marks a second paragraph is needed.
As shown above, this answer needs to include a second-order concept in the question. When revising make sure that you know at least two reasons why the key events or issues of the course were important. This will help you to answer this question in your exam.
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