Elizabethan Theater and Drama

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the many ways that the Elizabethan theater changed drama. It explains that the emergence of Shakespeare and other playwrights turned out to be perfect timing for the new way in which plays were acted out. The structure of the theater during this time changed the relationship between the audience and the actors by bringing them closer together, as well as encouraging the audience to use their imagination. It discusses how the intimate structure of the theater and the fascinating material changed how theater would be perceived and defined forever.

From the Paper:

"The Elizabethan stage was different from previous stages because it "utilized an open platform stage inherited from medieval theater" (Wilson 279). Wilson notes that the theater buildings had a character "all their own" (Wilson 279). Another significant difference between Elizabethan theaters and earlier theaters was the fact that Elizabethan theaters did not have painted scenery. Because of the nature of how plays were performed, the platform stage had to be a rather neutral playing area "which could become many different places in quick succession" (279). Because a play's action moved swiftly, this type of stage was not only convenient but also essential to provide a sense of continuous action as the play progressed."

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