The little things make a big differnce (actors, make up, costumes, staging)
Θεοδώση Ιωάννα Καραμαλίκη Ευγενία Καψάσκη Ιουλιάνα Μαρινάκη Αναστασία Νόνα Ντορίνα
The little things make a big difference! By Shakespeare’s club! How the background and the stage are prepared What are the expectations of the right actor How make-up was used to create the right effect and characteristics How to look the part
A big thank you We would like to say a massive thank you to all the people that helped us make this project. Ms Ramou for her brilliant co-operation, Ms Barbara for all the useful information that she gave us, Mr Stravopodi for helping us to finish our project, the library of Zakynthos town for letting us use their books and the I.E.K. computer room for giving us the chance to use the computers.
Chapters General characteristics of Elizabethan theatre Staging Costumes Lighting Globe theatre special effects Globe theatre actors-life, skills, rehearsals, income
TO SUM UP The Globe Theatre is one of the most popular theatres in the world. In this book, the reader will be able to get to know the characteristics of the Globe Theatre. More over there is information about the roles, the staging, the special effects, the costumes and so on. In the 16th century (Elizabethan era), the Globe Theatre was the place to watch Shakespeare’s plays allowing everyone to enter there and give them the opportunity to entertain their selves. In order to make the plays more interesting to the audience, they used special effects (for instance; trapdoors, the cannon, music etc). What is more there are references to the actors, their skills, their costumes, their makeup even more their income.
GENERAL THEATRE
CHARACTERISTICS
OF
ELIZABETHAN
The characteristics of the theatre is the platform-stage, the free space the standing audience at its three sides and two or three places armed with benches or chairs around them. Behind the platform-stage there was a wall with doors, which led to the backstage. On that wall there was a place for musicians and actors which ended on a tower that hid the technical equipment. From this tower a trumpet which signaled the start of the play and a flag was waving during the performance. On the stage there was a shelter known as “the sky”. “The sky” was based on columns and its roof was painted blue with stars. One of the characteristics of the theatre is the “inside stage”. The “inside stage” was believed to be a room built behind the opening leading to the stage or a part of the hallway which was behind the wall of the stage. The theatrical buildings were identical. The marble columns with the actors’ glamorous costumes were creating a festive atmosphere because of the gold, red and blue color. Most of the actors were wearing old clothes of rich patrons. The costumes were always in fashion.
Staging The actors used many mobile subjects, but the place and the time of the play were indicated mostly from the actors’ lines than the painted scenes. This allowed speed to the plot which was not attainable in theatres which used methods that were difficult to employ.
Cos tum es
The costumes were usually stereotypes in order to make easier to the audience to recognize and identify the various characters of the play.
Lighting Until the sixteenth century theatres were mostly outdoor activities. When the first indoor theatres were created, the lighting was ensured with candles from animals’ fat, brands and oil lamps. In the 17th century mirrors were used to empower the light.
Globe Theatre Special Effects
The Globe theatre is not usually associated with the use of special effects. However many Globe Theatre Props and special effects were used to enhance the dramatic and visual effects of the plays performed at the Globe Theatre was new and competition was fierce. The better the plays and the more dramatic the special effects resulted in bigger audiences and greater profits. The Elizabethan audience must have looked at the brightly decorated Globe Theater in awe – but the special effects would have held far greater impact. So what special effects were created for the performances and plays written by the likes of William Shakespeare? Trapdoors The Globe theatre was designed to include some provisions to produce special effects. Trapdoors were built in the floor of the stage (called Hell) and in the stage ceiling (the Heavens). The height of the stage was 5 feet – so the area beneath the stage was easily big enough to hold both actors and props. This area underneath the stage was given the title ‘Hell’. Some props or special effects could therefore be ‘entranced’ or ‘exited’ via the trap doors. Actors could appear or disappear via the stage trapdoors. The Globe Theatre Heavens was the mane given for the false ceiling over the stage. The false ceiling was also designed with trap doors. Through the Heavens trap doors Globe Theatre actors, attached by a harness with wires or ropes, could make flying entrances on to the stage and props could be lowered on to the stage. The effect of this on the audience must have been very exciting, leaving a lasting and dramatic impact. Bloody Globe Theatre Special Effects Bloody special effects were used to excite and astound the audience. The simplest would be a handkerchief soaked in blood. Bloody special effects could also be produced to mimic wounds and injuries. Bloody Special effects could be used such as tunable using a blood soaked dummy to be substituted for an actor. Animal intestines, tongues and bones could be used to
enhance the effects. Bladders filled with the blood of animals such as sheep or bulls were concealed beneath the actor’s costumes which could be pierced by the points of daggers or swords used in stage fights, or just a thump to the chest could produce a gruesome death scene. The Cannon The cannon was situated inside the roof, in the attic above the ‘Heavens’. The cannon was used to create a dramatic special effect such as heralding great entrances especially in the plays by William Shakespeare which were about an event in history. The cannon was loaded with gunpowder and wadding providing the opportunity to recreate the sounds of the battlefield. Live animals Some of the plays of William Shakespeare call for the entrance of live animals, such as a dog or bear. There are no records confirming that such animals were actually used – but it seems logical that any such special effects using live animals would have been at least tried. The music Different sounds were used to create special effects. The most obvious sound effect was music. Musicians were employed to enhance the overall theatre experience. One of the balconies above the stage housed the musicians. Elizabethan composers were commissioned to write music and songs to accompany the works of playwrights such as William Shakespeare.
GLOBE THEATRE ACTORS – LIFE, SKILLS, REHEARSALS, INCOME The life of a globe theatre actor The reputation of the early Elizabethan actors was not good and any were viewed as no better than rogues and vagabonds-actors were not trusted the standing of the Elizabethan actors improved when the purpose-built theatres were introduced and some of the globe theatre actors became the equivalent of today’s superstars.
The skills of globe theatre actors William Shakespearean and the other globe theatre actors were expected to perform their own stunts. Their skills would include sword fighting skills and they had to be able to fall convincingly. The voices of the actors had to carry well to enthuse that the plot was being communicated to the audience, the actors had to “overact” making exaggerated gestures with their arms and hands. Their skills also had to include a good memorythere was a fast turn over of plays and this skill was a great asset for an actor although not an essential one.
Rehearsals of the globe theater actors-“cue acting” and “cue scripting” The globe theatre was known to produce “eleven performances of ten different plays” in just two weeks. Rehearsal time was therefore limited. On many occasions the globe theatre actors only got their lines as the play was actually in progress. Parts were often allocated on the day of the performance. Sometimes the actors didn’t even get any lines. Working with a method called “cue acting” which meant that there was a person backstage who whispered the lines to the actors just before he was
going to say them. This rapid turnover led to another technique called “cue scripting”, where each actor was given only his own lines. The complete scene and content of the play was not explained to the actors until it was actually being performed. These techniques allowed for a zero rehearsal time. The income of a globe theatre The salaries of actors varied according to their position in the theatre. The boy actors who took the female roles were paid the least of all actors. The Admiral’s Men paid boy players only three shillings a week. The boys were apprenticed to adult actors and their wages were paid to their masters who gave them board and lodging and a small allowance in return. Part players were paid a daily wage of approximately one shilling per day. The main players were paid at least two shillings per day. However many of the major Elizabethan actors such as William Shakespeare became stake holders in the theatres, such as a globe theatre, and the profits made them very wealthy men. Globe theatre female roles Women were forbidden, by law, to perform the Elizabethan theatre, therefore there were no actresses at the globe theater. The parts of female character were played by young boys. These boy actors were usually aged between 13 and 19 years old when their voices were still high and muscles had not fully developed. Globe theatre female roles-The women's costumes and make up. Women were not allowed to act in the theatre in 1660 as it was judged to be unseemly for a woman to undertake such a perfusion. The costumes used for the female characters were extremely elaborate, reflecting the clothes worn during the Elizabethan era. Wings or periwigs as they were called were readily available as
they were in fashion at the time so this was not a costuming problem. However, the make up used by Elizabethan women, and therefore the boy actors wore white make up which was lead based and highly poisonous!! Actors actually died in some occasions. The boy actors who took the female roles were also paid the least of all actors.
ďƒ˜ Globe theatre female roles-character recognition. Nearly every color of clothing had its own meaning In relation to status and rank during the Elizabethan Era. The colors, materials and style of the Globe Theatre female roles therefore conveyed an Enormous amount of information as soon as the boy Actors walk on stage. As soon as a character Walked on stage the fabric and color of his clothing Would indicate the role of the character he was Playing Velvet, fur, silks and lace would be used And recognized as a member of the upper class.
Cottons and taffeta were used to indicate a much Lower status. ďƒ˜ Globe theatre female roles-the masque and class differences. A great deal of attention is paid to the fact that Lower class Elizabethan women were not allowed To perform on the Elizabethan stage as it would Have been considered to be lewd and highly immoral. This view was not taken regarding the Appearance of upper class Elizabethan women who Appeared in court masque! The mother of Queen Elizabeth certainly appearance of Ann Boleyn at the Tudor Court was in March. Perhaps the element of Disguise allowed for this as wizards, or masks, were Always worn by the performers. But the more Probable explanation was that these wealthy women Of the court wanted to be included in performing in such an exciting diversion as a masque
Conclusion To conclude, watching plays which were performed on the stages of the Globe theatre, was an amazing and enjoyable experience for the audiences. Even though we talk about ages ago some stunning special effects were used in the production of the plays, for instance trapdoors, the cannon, animals’ blood etc. Staging and performing a play was a difficult and painful procedure for the actors because of the awful working conditions and prejudices concerning the profession of the actor. Despite the hardworking conditions the actors’ wages were rather low and children working in the theatre had to give their money to the people involved in the production of the plays. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the Elizabethean theatre we can undoubtly say that it was the first complete form of theatre in history, from which today’s theatre has derived.
REFERENCE: • • • • • • • •
The Merchant of Venice Ιστορία του θεάτρου Θέατρο 65 Εγκυκλοπαίδεια «το βήμα-πάπυρος λαρούς μπριτάνικα 8» http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk Barbara Ampela Ι.Ε.Κ. Public Library
INDEX