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Shakespeare- props, lighting, actors, costumes, and fashion
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Shakespeare used very little, if any props.
He felt that if he used verbal scripts describing them, it would be unnecessary to have them.
In order to put a visual image into the audience's heads, it was necessary for him to pay special attention to the detail of items, while writing his plays.
In Shakespeare's time period, there was no electrical lighting. Because of this, the only light was candlelight, but even that wasn't enough to light a stage for a performance.
Due to the amount of light being scarce, just like props, he used words in his plays to describe the time of day. They also had to have plays from 2:00 pm to 4-5:00 pm, so it would still be light out.
An example of him using words to describe the light is in act 2 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet---
"Now the sun is on the highmost hill. Of this days journey, and from nine till twelve is three long hours, yet she is not come."
Major actors who acted at the Globe Theatre included:
- William Shakespeare
- Henry Condell
- Augustine Phillips
- William Sly
These four men are only a few of the people who acted in Shakespeare's plays.
William Shakespeare
It is not known how many roles William Shakespeare played himself, but it is known that he started his career as an actor in 1592.
Henry Condell
He was famous for being the joint editor of the collection of Shakespeare plays called the First Folio.
Augustine Phillips
He worked as an actor, musician, and dancer at the Globe Theatre.
Phillips was famous because he became a joint owner of Globe Theatre out of 6 men.
William Sly
Henry Condell and him both joined as co-owners of the Globe Theatre in 1605.
He played "romantic and soldiery parts" such as Tybalt from Romeo and Juliet.
Lord Chamberlain's Men
Each of these Elizabethan actors were from an acting troupe called Lord Chamberlain's Men, that Shakespeare created. They were the most important company of players in Elizabethan England.
Women were not permitted to act in this time period, so the Globe Theatre would get young boys to play the parts of girls, such as Juliet from Romeo and Juliet.
Another interesting detail is that the Globe Theatre was known to produce eleven performances of ten different plays in only ten weeks.
Since rehearsal time was limited, sometimes they would do what is called 'cue acting' which meant that a person backstage would whisper the lines to the actor just before he said them.
The Globe Theatre Costumes were fabulous-sumptuous materials,
vivid colors and extremely costly.
The costumes did not always reflect the correct period of the play. The Globe actors generally wore the dress of their own time. Some were specifically made for the actors and some were donated by rich patrons. The costumes in a play would have been easier to develope as togas are relatively easy to make. A combination of Roman Clothing and Elizabethan Clothing might have been seen together.
- In Global Theatre, Elizabethans were forbidden to wear clothes indicating a high status. Elizabethans were not allowed to wear whatever they liked. It did not matter how rich they were; the fabric, and even the style of their clothes were dedicated by their rank or status.
These strict rules were inforced by English Laws about clothing which were called Sumptuary Laws. They were designed to limit the expenditure on clothes.
Lower Class Elizabethans
were not able to wear the latest fashions.
The character and rank of an actor wearing a Globe Theatre Costume made of velvets, furs, silks, or lace would be instantly recognised as a member of the upper class. Cottons and taffeta would indicate a much lower status.
For the female, the typical Renassance costumes are the gowns worn with corsets. For the male, it consisted of pants and shirts, with a doublet or jerkin worn over it. For the lower class, there are heavily boned bodices that have no underlying corsets. Men's fashion during Shakespeare's time consisted of shirts, doublet, pants, hose, hat, and shoes or boots.
Elizabethan Clothing for Women:
Underclothes-Smock or shirt also called a chemise madeof linen, stockings or hose,
corset or bodice, farthingale- a hooped skirt,
a roll or rowle, stomacher, petticoat, kirtle, forepart, and partlet. Overclothes-Gown, separate sleeves, ruff, cloak, shoes, and hat.
The Hair styles, make-up, jewelry, and even suitable Wedding Dress has also been included.
Elizabethan Clothing for Men:
Underclothes-shirt, stockings or hose, codpiece,
and corset. Overclothes-Doublet, separate sleeves,
breeches, belt, ruff, cloak, shoes, and hat.
The materials and even the
colors of Elizabethan clothing
were therefore very important
and sections have been dedicated
to these subjects in relation to
dyes, fabrics, and the type
of clothing that men were
allowed to wear and the type
of clothing that Elizabethan
women were allowed to wear.
Belts and billowy shirts were worn together .
Pnays worn by noblemen were called breeches or Venetian breeches. These roomy and loose. The hose should be worn in such a way that it meets the socks at the knee. Loafer shoes will look good with this costume. For accessories, you can put on a fake pointed goatee.
For women, the hourglass shape was key. Wide shoulders at the bodice whittled, down to a narrow cinched waist, then opened up to a belled skirt; the bosom was tightly lifted at the plunging neckline. For men, the silhouette was square, blostered by an abundance of padding. Vents and slashes were common and attractive due to their relationship with sword battle. Boots, breeches, jerkin vest, a doublet and an adorned hat made for a dashing outfit.
In Shakespeare's time, the costumes and make-up are vital things that had to be done because everyone was classified on how they looked and dressed.
The Elizabethan era was also a highly fashion conscious age, a time when sumptuous fabrics, new dyes, and exuberant dress prevailed. Clothing was a primary indicator of wealth in those days so the more dramatic and oqulent the costume, the better. Shakespeare himself was no stranger to fashion, using costumes to a greater effect than any dramatist before him.