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.