Renaissance Theatre

Renaissance Theatre

14th-16th Century

Where did Renaissance Theatre take place?

• England

• Italy

Multiple Choice

Did the Renaissance take place in Canada?

• Yes

• No

Renaissance

The word "renaissance" means rebirth.

This period refers to a time in history when learning and art became extremely important and brought the world out of the dark ages.

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What does the word "renaissance" mean?

• space travel

• Shakespeare

• birth

• rebirth

Who do we know that was popular during the Renaissance?

Our boy Shakespeare!

Multiple Choice

Is Shakespeare our boy?

• Yes

• No

Comedies

Comedies focused on characters of lower classes (peasants) and were about everyday issues. Comedies had happy endings.

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Still alive?

• Yes

• No

Tragedies

Tragedies included characters of higher status, such as royalty. Typically the plots were full of juicy gossip (like affairs) and had sad endings.

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Were tragedies happy or sad?

• Happy

• Sad

Actors

Actors were still male, making each production of Romeo and Juliet more entertaining. During this time, many actors were actors by profession---meaning that they made money from acting.

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Still there?

• Yes

• No

Public Opinion

Theatre was still frowned upon by many, but Queen Elizabeth I had a fondness for theatre and often hired theatre companies to perform special shows for her.

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Who liked theatre?

• King George

• Prince Phillip

• Queen Elizabeth I

• Bugs Bunny

Costumes

The costumes were definitely bold. The sleeves on costumes were ballooned out and puffy. Ruffled collars were also very popular for men and women.

The female characters (still usually played by male actors) wore accessories on their heads, large hoop skirts, and padded hips to give them the classic renaissance shape that we all know and love.

Hair and Make-Up

Oof. Women during this time preferred large foreheads and big, poofy hair. This led many women to shave the top of their forehead to push back their hairline. So, female characters in plays had the same appearance. Typically, foreheads were decorated with pearls and jewels for high-ranking characters.

Males had hair to the bottom of their necks that was parted down the middle.

For both female and male characters, excessive amounts of blush were a must-have.

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Were Renaissance costumes extra poofy?

• Yes

• No

Sets

During the Renaissance it became popular to have painted backdrops for plays. Actual theaters were built during this time to house plays, which were often very elaborate.

And who do you think ended all the fun...?

The PURITANS.

The Puritans felt that the theatre promoted immortality (the ability to live forever) and did not approve of men dressing as women on stage. On September 2, 1642, the Puritans in power ordered the closing of all London theaters. Theaters remained closed for 18 years.