What kind of people attended the globe theater

In Elizabethan England, one penny would buy a loaf of bread, a pint of ale, or a ticket to the theater. For another penny, they could sit on a bench just behind the yard. For a penny more, they could sit more comfortably on a cushion. To get into the upper galleries, which were covered and had seats, cost would start at 6 pence. In general, audiences were much more rowdy and directly involved in the show than we are today. There was not electricity for special theater lights, so both the stage and the audience were in broad daylight, allowing them to see each other and interact.

The audience would move around, buy food and ale in the theater, clap for the hero, boo the villain, and cheer for the special effects. There were no toilet facilities and people relieved themselves outside.

Sewage was buried in pits or disposed of in the River Thames. The audiences only dropped during outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which was unfortunately an all too common occurrence during the Elizabethan era. This happened in , and when all Elizabethan theatres were closed due to the Bubonic Plague The Black Death.

Some interesting facts and information about the Elizabethan Theatre and Elizabethan Theatre Audiences. Elizabethan Elizabethan Theatre Audiences. Elizabethan Theatre Elizabethan Era Index. Elizabethan Theatre Audiences. Picture of Blackfrairs Playhouse. Elizabethan Theatre. The popularity of the theater reached people from all walks of life - from Royalty to the Nobility and the Commoners.

They clapped the heroes and booed the villains, and cheered the special effects. With such large audiences, plays only had short runs and then had to be replaced. Between and about 3, new plays were written. At the Swan in , the audience damaged the chairs, stools, curtains and walls. This was probably because the company used women actors, but could just have been because they were French.

Since it was so involved in the performance of a play, the audience was vital to its success. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies.

Who came to the theatres? How much did it cost? Secondly, the lower class was not allowed to sit. In the pit they were allowed to throw the garbage at the actors. Finally, in the pit the theatre goers were rowdy and obnoxious. They would gamble, fight, drink, steal, sell nuts and fruit, and engage in prostitution.

The lower class was the least loved of all the classes, hence the name groundlings or lower class. Search this site. Home Elizabethan England Clothing. Stage and Props. Theatre Goers. Act One. Act Two.