Elizabethan Theatre Report

ELIZABETHAN THEATRE REPORT

In the earliest years of theatres, they were built outside the city limits, as they were not allowed within the city walls. In addition, this way the city governors had no jurisdiction over them. In 1576 the first theatre building was constructed. It was erected by James Burbage (father of Richard Burbage), and was aptly named "The Theatre". It was enclosed wooden structures built in Fins bury Fields, outside London. Baiting rings in which actors were accustomed to perform in the past. These theatres were circular wooden buildings with a paved courtyard in the middle open to the sky. A rectangular stage jutted out into the middle of this yard. Some of the audience stood in the yard (or 'pit') to watch the play. They were thus on three sides of the stage, close up to it and on a level with it. Such a theatre could hold about 3,000 spectators. In 1608 Shakespeare’s company. . It has been suggested that the plays written for this 'private'