Drawing of the original Globe Theatre
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The theatre was made from wooden frames with exterior walls that were made from plaster. The walls were joined at angles to form a circular structure. Inside, the theatre looked like a modern opera house, with 3 galleries for seating. These galleries were also sheltered from the weather by a roof. The galleries were estimated to be able to sit about 2000 – 3000 people, who were likely to be those who were richer and could pay more to sit down. The stage was in the centre and was raised about four to six feet from the ground. A roof supported by pillars also sheltered it. In front of the stage was an open-air yard that about 1000 people could stand on. It is generally assumed that those who stood throughout a performance were the poorer folks who still wanted to catch a performance. The theatre had no curtains that opened or closed at the beginning or end of performances and at the backstage, there was likely to be a wall with two or three doors leading to the actors’ dressing rooms known as the "tiring house". Few props and backdrops were used then, as these were too heavy or difficult to move or change quickly enough. The actors playing gods, ghosts, demons and other supernatural characters could be raised onto the stage from the “underworld, which was a trap door on floor of the stage. They could also descend to earth from “the heavens” on a winch line suspended from the ceiling. Sheet metal was rippled to create the sounds of thunder while fireworks were used to represent omens, meteors, or God’s anger. Music was provided by instruments like oboes, cornets and harps. To symbolize injury or death, actors simply slapped their hands against a hidden pouch beneath their shirts to release some form of animal blood.
According to folklore, that was where the saying "in the pits" came about, cos the people in the pits had to suffer from all the smoke that was emitted from the wall scones that was used to illuminate the stage. Furthermore the squeeze and the heat combined with the smells of greasy foods and other snacks that was being sold. Do you think the stage actors nowadays still rely on such primitive forms of trickery?
ReplyDeleteWow! Seems like the Elizabethans were quite advanced rather than primitive back then! Trap doors opening for actors to emerge from beneath the stage and actors descending from the “sky” are techniques still used today in pop concerts and stage performances! Just that they now use machines to carry out the actions, I guess.
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