LIFE

1. When Shakespeare was born Elizabeth had been on the throne 6 years.
2. Stratford, market town of less than a 1,000 people. Three million population of England, 90% country born and bred. London 90 miles away.
3. Shakespeare's father was a prominent citizen - mayor.
4. Shakespeare went to grammar school. Studied Latin/Rhetoric. Therefore dealing with written and spoken language 8/9 hours day 6 days a week.
5. 18 years old in 1582. Married Anne Hathaway (26 years old).
6. Not much known for 10 years.
7. 1592 described as rising dramatist in pamphlet. Came under patronage of Earl of Southampton.
8. 1597 made enough money to buy New Place one of best houses in Stratford.
9. Between 1590 - 1603 not much known but wrote 26 plays.
10. 1603-- top of profession. Legally one of King James' servants and his company most often chosen for court performances.
11. D.1616 37 plays.

NB On Culture high/low- Shakespeare wrote for everyone.

1. Shakespeare's life fell within a century of comparative calm.
1. Marian persecutions ended 6 years before his birth.
2. Civil war 26 years after death.
2. No police, no standing army, no civil service.
3. First 25 years of his life saw uncertainty due to possible death of queen who refused to marry or name a successor.
4. Catholic loyalty was doubted and Northern rising in 1569. Pope's Bull excommunicating Liz in 1570 and relieving Catholics of their allegiance to her. Mary Stuart executed 1587.
5. English forces fighting Spain. Drake plundering in Pacific in 1578. 'War declared in 1585. Armada 1588.
6. Late 1590's political irresponsibility from Essex. End of reign saw conflict between ruler and parliament over (Crucial 40 years later).

1. Help from the court and attempted repression from Puritan Corporation background of London theatre 1576 - 1642.
1. Court saw to it that theatre continued because of personal pleasure. Leading courtiers were patrons of acting troupes and were jealous of growing Puritan influence.
2. Court also saw theatres must be regulated. 1559 Royal proclamation meant local officials had task of licensing plays and forbidding plays 'wherein either matters of religion or of the governance of the state shall be handled or treated.'
1. 1581 Master of Rebels (Official for providing court entertainment) took over these duties.
2. 1607 Same official look over licensing of printed plays (had been done by church).
3. Puritans wanted to stop rather than control. Achieved 1642.
1. For Shakespeare Puritanism problem just nuisance like regulations because often performed outside city limits.
4. More serious - Plague winter 1592 no playing January 1593 - June 1594. 1603 - 1610 plague endemic to London. . . had to travel in provinces or abroad.

1. When Shakespeare was at school there was no specialised public theatre in London. Plays performed by troupes at court, private houses or semi-public halls and open air.
2. At Court, season ran from November to Lent but plays mainly performed during 12 days of Xmas.
3. 1590 four public theatres in London (all built outside city limits). The Theatre, the Curtain, Newington Butts, The Rose. By 1610, 5 or 6 public theatres.

(often companies have travelling stage, use inns or ball baiting rings, village greens etc.)

1. Acting troupes took over from medieval minstrel bands. Actors could only operate as member of troupe (vagabond laws) therefore patronage needed. Technically then member of a nobleman's household.
2. History of companies mixed. Changed patrons, joined together. Shakespeare invested his money in the theatre. e.g. 1599 £100-for 1 of 10 house-keeper shares in the Globe.
3. Long runs unknown. Several plays given in only one week. Few plays remained in repertoire for more than one year. Only 10% of all plays achieved more than twenty performances. 12 - 15 = moderate success. e.g. group known as Sussex's Men between January 16th and February 6th 1594 gave twelve performances of nine plays.
4. Shakespeare wrote for greater part of his career for one group of actors. Plays specially written for them??

Shakespeare, K. H. Grose and B.T. Oxley.