Shakespeare Historical Context

Monday, 11 September 2017

Sunday, 4 June 2017

MY PRODUCTION

RESEARCH: Research your own Shakespeare play; Measure for Measure. What is the play about? When was it first performed? Find a contemporary production of the play you can get an idea of and research it in terms of concept, style, design, casting. Give some attention to your own character and their role in the play.

Measure for Measure was written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and 1604. It is a comedy, however it is viewed as one of Shakespeare’s ‘problem plays’ due to an often dark tone and oppressive themes. The first recorded performance of the play was on Boxing Day, 1604. During the restoration, Measure for Measure was adapted to appeal to a new more forward-think audiences. It has very sexual themes including a lot of sexual humour that would not have passed as smoothly with audiences in the early 17th century.

Synopsis
As the play opens, Duke Vincentio of Vienna hands control of the city over to his deputy, Angelo, asking him to take over in order to bring order to the corruption and lechery of the party town. The Duke then goes into hiding as a friar, watching over this deputy and the changes in the city.

Angelo's first act is to crack down on lechery. Claudio is imprisoned and sentenced to execution for impregnating his fiancé, Juliet. His sister, Isabella, is informed of this and rushes to ask Angelo for forgiveness and a pardon. Angelo is reluctant, until she offers to bribe him. He then requests her virginity in return for a pardon for her brother. Isabella refuses.

Isabella tells her brother of his fate, and he begs for her compliance. The duke, dressed as a friar, overhears Isabella talking of Angelo's requests and hatches a plan with her to smite him. This involves using Angelo's previous fiancé in Isabella's place.

After this plan unfolds, the Duke returns to Vienna, and reveals Angelo as a corrupt deputy.

The play focusses on themes such as the dichotomy between corruption and purity; sexual desire, and tyranny of state control.

Cheek By Jowl - Measure for Measure

The show was performed from 2013 to 2015, and was set in modern day Russia. Cheek by Jowl are a contemporary company based in London. The show was translated into Russian by the company, a group of entirely Russian actors. Similarly to our own show, they focussed on state control, this time in the so-called Russian democracy under Putin. They covered state censorship, lack of freedom of expression, and sexuality. It's style was simple, with lots of military wear incorporated into the costumes and block red colours calling back to the Soviet Union and the oppression that came with it. In particular, my character, the Duke, was changed slightly for this production, as he was presented as part of the Putinesque government, a political figure rather than a royal one. This took some of the fun from the character, making him appear more cold.

WEEK 5 - SHAKESPEARE TODAY

QUESTION: Analyse contemporary Shakespeare productions with reference to live performances you may have seen or clips or footage available online. You should comment on what you notice about them and how they differ from what you know about the original performance conditions of Shakespeare’s work.

Twelfth Night - National Theatre Image result for twelfth night national theatre

This was the first full piece of Shakespeare i had ever seen live, and it was a phenomenal experience. The differences between this production and the original are obvious - most blatantly the use of gender. In Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', despite the play exploring miscommunication of gender, all female rolls would have been played by men. In this production, the entirety of the piece focussed on gender and how men and women are seen differently. They took the theme further, swapping the genders of two of the leading characters, Malvolia and Feste, as well as making the entirety of Olivia's house staff female. Particularly in Malvolia's case, this massively changed the mood of the piece as many of the ways that she is mistreated, while very funny when done to a male Malvolio, came across as very cruel and dark. This lead to me questioning why I felt differently about different sexes, and proved an excellent decision.

Another difference was the lavish set. In Shakespearean productions sets were extremely minimalistic with no scenery and only vital props used. In the National's 'Twelfth Night' the set was extraordinary. Built originally as a gargantuan sea vessel that rotated and split to become different sections of an art deco mansion, it was a main feature of the show and added massively to the production, with much of the comedy relying on scenery and props.

This heavier reliance on physical comedy was obvious throughout the show, and is another difference to Shakespeare's productions. The words of the text are far more cryptic than 400 years ago, although they were still not simple then. This means that today much of the comedy in Shakespeare's lighter productions now comes from physical and character based comedy, giving a basis for funnier lines to feel more natural.

Hamlet - Brit School

As part of our shakespeare season a number of students in our year performed in 'Hamlet'. It was a truly different and thought-provoking take on a classic Shakespeare, and the contemporary elements were again obvious throughout.

One difference was the use of multimedia. The show used lots of music as well as some advanced lighting cues. This would not have happened in Shakespeare's production. Although music was sometimes used as part of the play, technology has advanced considerably since his era, and they would have had to put up with a live band and some candles, if not natural light.

A remarkable similarity can be seen in the theme. Brit's 'Hamlet' focussed on themes of teen angst and masculinity, leading to suicidal thoughts and anger. Although the rise of the teenager happened long after Shakespeare's death, it was obvious that he had grasped the concept of what it feels like to be stuck between childhood and adulthood, particularly as a man in a society that all but condemns weakness in the male sex.

THEATRES, ACTORS AND ACTING IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

QUESTION: What were the theatres or ‘playhouses’ of Shakespeare’s time like and how were plays staged in them?

The Globe is the most well known Shakespearean playhouse, but it was one of many in London at the time. The globe was an outdoor theatre, with the stage and most of the audience being exposed to the elements. Only the few seats were covered, and most of the audience would stand for the duration of the play. However, this made it the cheapest and most accessible way to see theatre in the day. Shakespeare's company then took over the Blackfriars theatre in London. This was an indoor theatre, providing a more intimate experience for a higher price. Often richer theatregoers would feast during the shows here, while in the globe it was more common to have a variety of snacks on sale including fruit and nuts.

The stage was a thrust, set so that the audience surrounded three sides of the stage. It was raised so that the entire audience could see and also to distinguish it from the surrounding crowds. There were few sets used other than vital pieces marked in the text. The entrances were always clearly visible to the audience, with the addition of vertical options - the higher areas being associated with divinity and the lower trapdoor exits with evil and hell. Often fantastical scenes such as the conversations between the fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" were held in the heavens to distinguish the characters as supernatural.

QUESTION: Who were the actors of Shakespeare’s plays and how did the experience of being an actor differ from the experience today

Being an actor in Shakespeare's plays was vastly different to acting today. For starters, women were not allowed to act at all, and female parts were played by boys or slight men.

The actors would dress in lavish clothing, rarely specific to the text, to add to the spectacle. This included a large amount of makeup including white powder to make the face seem pale (often filled with poisonous lead) and blush to rosy the cheeks.

The evolution of the actor during the Shakespearean age was largely connected to the creation of permanent playhouses. Actors used to travel in troupes around the country, performing a short run then moving on. These new theatres meant troupes could settle in London, honing their craft without having to worry about the next destination or the dangers of cross-country travel.

As well as acting, apprentice actors were expected to know how to sword fight, sing, dance, and would need to be literate as lines were given in scrolls called "rolls". Actors were trained as apprentices to the older actors from a young age, progressing from the female rolls to the male leads as they grew.

SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON AND ELIZABETHAN AUDIENCES

QUESTION: What was London like in Elizabethan times and who were the people attending the theatre?

London was quickly becoming a global city. It was the largest city in England, and it's connection with the Thames meant merchant ships could sail right into the centre, creating a trading hub that created tens of thousands of jobs for the city and it's people. This meant that there was money to be spent on leisurely activities, and in a world where many of the citizens were illiterate, the theatre thrived,as it was the easiest way for people to be informed and entertained en masse. Traders and their workers were not the only demographic to inhabit the theatre however - London was home to the royal family and the majority of the noble class. These noblemen could afford to support their own theatre companies or pay to build permanent playhouses - making London a pioneering city for the theatre community. Shakespeare and his company were looked upon fondly by the monarchy. Elizabeth I frequented the Globe and Shakespeare's company performed regularly to James I in his court.

London was growing so quickly that it developed into a small, dark and narrow city. often houses would be built 2 stories tall so that their upper floors covered the street, creating a maze of tunnel like streets. It's suburbs passed the city walls and into the countryside, joining with surrounding villages and slowly forming a metropolis. It's streets were frequented by pickpockets, thieves and muggers, as well as traders and labourers.

There were a number of ways to attend the theatre in the Shakespearean era, each coming with varying degrees of comfortability, at a price. The cheapest option was to buy a place in the yard, amongst the 'groundlings'. It was possible to purchase a spot for just a penny, however this meant standing at the foot of the stage, bunched up against fellow groundlings, with no shelter and no way of avoiding pickpockets. For twice this price, a seat could be bought on the ground floor surrounding the yard. For another penny, a cushion could be bought (much like interval ice creams today, these could be viewed as an unnecessary luxury). The most expensive seats were the lord's rooms, similar to a box in today's theatres.

SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH: Research Shakespeare’s life, ensuring you include information about his origins, family, relationships, the world he lived in and questions surrounding his work.

Origins
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon Avon in the Spring of 1564. His parents had had two children before him, however at the time the rate of infant mortality was very high and he was their oldest surviving child. He was the oldest of six children. having a large family was common, as life expectancy was so much shorter. He came from a reasonably respected background, his father being a renowned leatherworker who married Mary Arden of the well-known Arden family. He likely attended grammar school, receiving a full education with a focus on reading and latin, likely explaining his aptitude for literature and application of latin phrases in his plays.

Family & Relationships
William married Anne Hathaway (no relation, obviously) at age 18. She was 26 at the time. They had three children, Susanna, Judith and Hamnet (the supposed namesake of arguably his most famous work, Hamlet). Hamnet died aged 11, leaving Shakespeare with no male heirs, therefore the name died with him. William lived in London while the rest of his family lived in Stratford. There is debate as to whether this separation was because the pair had fallen out of love or if it was just a requirement of being a renowned playwright.

Shakespeare's World

Shakespeare spent most of his life living in London and working as an actor, playwright and poet. History lost track of him for a while, between the birth of his children and his appearances as a more renowned thespian. It is assumed by many that in this time he travelled Europe, as many of his plays have a deep understanding of the European cities in which they are set. When history catches up, he is established in London, having written a number of historical plays such as Henry VI. Throughout the next few decades he built himself up as a well respected actor and playwright, and his name started to feature more prominently on the front of scripts and texts as he became a draw for audiences. His other lucrative business venture was as part the King's men, an extremely well respected theatre troupe of actors and playwrights. They later went on to create one of the only reliable images of Shakespeare, shortly after his death in 1616 (see top right).

Questions
The main questions surrounding his work to this day focus on the large gap in Shakespeare's recording life, his whereabouts and activities in this time. This also means we do not know what caused him to take up acting, how he became involved in the theatre scene in London, and his first connections with already established theatre-makers. As history continues his words will also become harder to dismantle, as many of the nuances and 'in-jokes' of Shakespeare's works can become lost on a contemporary audience. It is therefore vital to focus on getting to grips with this if there is to be a true connection between audience and actor.

Life in Elizabethan England

QUESTION: What sense do you get of what life was like in Elizabethan England?

Although often referred to as the "Golden Age of England" due to the lavish lifestyle of the aristocracy and successful international naval conquests, in reality life in Elizabethan England was very difficult for the majority.

Population
The population was far smaller than the 65 million currently living in this country: starting at 2.1 million when Elizabeth I became monarch in 1558 and rising significantly to 4.2 million by her death in 1603 .
There are multiple reasons for this population increase, one of the main ones being that urbanisation began to spread. Towns and cities started to pop up and grow, with as much as 15% of the population living in urban areas by the end of the era.

Entertainment
There were lots of ways to entertain oneself in the Elizabethan era. Theatre was not the expensive, elitist practice it now is so often perceived to be, and particularly in cities then everyone, from prince to pauper, would gather to see productions of the latest William Shakespeare production. This began on temporary stages in pub gardens (or inn-yards) until theatre became so popular that large stages and amphitheatres where erected around London particularly. The population was largely illiterate, so this form of entertainment was truly the only way to broadcast stories to a wide audience, and to hear these stories without needing an expensive education.

Religion
The Elizabethan era was one of relative religious tranquility. Previous rulers Henry VIII and Mary I, Elizabeth's Father and Sister, had caused the religious alignments of the country to swing back and forth, provoking chaos and leading to a schism in religious beliefs of it's citizens. Henry had created the Church of England, detaching itself from the Catholic faith and following it's own brand of protestant christianity. Mary had fought this during her own reign, making catholicism the national religion once more and burning thousands of protestants at the stake for refusing to conform. Elizabeth compromised, once again diverting to the Church of England, but allowing catholics to legally go about their lives. However, catholics were not allowed to practice publicly and becoming a catholic priest was illegal.

Superstition
Often when watching a Shakespeare play it is hard to understand the usage of the supernatural, as they do not fit our idea of realism, meaning we must suspend our disbelief. However, in the age they were written in the idea of witches, ghosts, wizards and fairies were very real. Their association with the countryside in many of the plays is important, as in that era it was a place of treachery and danger. Often it was impossible to travel from city to city without encountering pillagers, so it would have been an easy idea to conform to that the hills and forests were filled with mysterious supernatural beings.

Money
The majority of the English Population was poor, a contrast to the lavish image of the aristocratic minority that we remember today. A common servant or labourer would make only £2-5 a year. This, however, was a lot more than it sounds in today's terms. This amount would provide enough to buy just enough food to provide for a man and his wife. However, some deductions would have to be made for rent, and for the children. Most paupers would grow their own vegetables, particularly in the country.

Jobs
In the countryside, often there would be three different types of people found in a local inn - labourers, yeomen and husbandmen. Labourers move from farm to farm, working on the land in exchange for a fee. Yeoman rent their land to others, and Husbandmen rent the land they work on.
The pay was very poor for labourers, however sometimes the landowners would accommodate them in the barn.

The rise of urban population meant a new breed of middle-class traders that would buy an exchange goods in markets or harbours. Often these goods would come from faraway lands such as India or Italy; this mean there was also lots of merchant seafarers, travelling via boats to buy international goods.

Medicine
Elizabethan medicine and healthcare was extremely primitive. Most of the practices relied on superstition and astrology. They often followed the philosophies of Aristotle and Hippocrates, ancient Greek philosophers. During this age the great Bubonic plague or "Black Death" hit London, killing almost a third of the population. A popular cure for the plague involved placing strong smelling flowers around the pores and nostrils. There was very little understanding of the body or how we work.