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Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

Tudor World History Channel

70K views 5 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear “Elizabethan theatre,” what comes to mind (plays, buildings, costumes, audience)?
What do you think could be explained in “13 minutes” about Elizabethan theatre—history, famous writers, or how performances worked?
Do you think theatre in the past was more formal or more chaotic than theatre today? Why?

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Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

The Elizabethan era and the shift in play themes (00:00 – 02:32)

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1. What is the Elizabethan era (as stated in the video)?

1485–1509
1501–1558
1558–1603
1603–1642

2. Which type of plays are described as having religious themes showing good and bad conduct?

Morality plays
History plays
Masques
Romantic comedies

3. According to the video, why did play themes change during Elizabeth’s reign?

Mainly because theatres became larger
Mainly because actors became wealthy
Mainly because the plague ended
Mainly due to the English Reformation

Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

Actors, companies, and the rise of purpose-built playhouses (02:32 – 07:07)

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1. How were many early Elizabethan actors viewed?

As government officials
As rogues and vagabonds
As members of the aristocracy
As respected scholars

2. About how many people could a play attract to the theatre (as stated)?

Around 300
As many as 30,000
Exactly 500
As many as 3,000

3. What is one example of a “technical trick” mentioned in the video?

Using microphones to amplify voices
Automatic lighting changes
Lowering actors on wires
Projecting films behind the stage

Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

University wits, theatre features, playwrights, and the decline of the era (07:07 – 13:27)

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1. What was the cheapest place to watch, where people stood in front of the stage?

The backstage gallery
The royal box
The orchestra pit
The groundlings’ area

2. What is one reason Marlowe is described as important to drama?

He created the sumptuary laws
He changed the conventions of early Elizabethan plays
He banned strolling players
He invented the first purpose-built theatre

3. What event is said to have increased patriotic confidence and national identity?

The building of the first theatre in Shoreditch
England’s victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588
The opening of the Globe Theatre in 1599
The English Reformation

Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

Transcript will load here…

1. Which best summarizes how theatre’s social status changed during the period described?

Theatre stayed mostly religious and avoided new topics
Actors moved from being distrusted to becoming celebrated and professional
Theatre moved from being only for the aristocracy to being completely illegal
Actors stopped traveling because audiences disliked plays

2. Which factor helped theatres and companies become more stable and productive?

The removal of all musicians and writers from theatre staffs
The establishment of purpose-built theatres that created a solid financial base
The disappearance of audiences who stood near the stage
A complete ban on all performances outside London

3. What combination of topics is emphasized as important in Elizabethan theatre?

Only costumes and painted scenery
Politics, religion, popular entertainment, and new dramatic writing
Only ancient Greek plays
Only court performances for the queen

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Elizabethan Theatre Explained in 13 Minutes

The video says the queen used theatre to “project her own glory.” How do modern leaders or celebrities use media in similar ways?
Would you have enjoyed being a “groundling” standing close to the stage in a loud crowd? Why or why not?
Do you think censorship or moral pressure (like the Puritan reaction) helps or harms art? Explain.
Which seems more important for great theatre: talented writers, skilled actors, or good buildings/technology? Defend your choice.