The Elizabethan Theater and Its Effects on Performance

Abstract

For hundreds of years, theatre has remained one of the most popular forms of entertainment. In 16 th century England, during the reign of Elizabeth I, theatre was easily accessible to the masses and greatly in demand, causing the creation of some of the most beautiful works of dramatic literature, especially the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s plays were performed for thousands of spectators at a time, on stages of variable sizes, in multiple playhouses around London. The particular design of the Elizabethan theater, along with the staging techniques of the time, impacted how Shakespeare’s plays were performed and their effect on the audience.