The English Renaissance theatre, refers to the theatre of England, largely based in London, which occured between the

Reformation(Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope) and the closure of the theatres in 1642. However, the term "Elizabethan theatre" refers only to the plays written and performed publicly in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). The Elizabethan theatre is a sub-classification on the English Renaissance Theatre. It took place during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and was followed by the Jacobean theatre (reign of James I, 1603-1625) and the Caroline theatre (king Charles I, 1625-1642).

Renaissance theatre derived from medieval theatre traditions, such as the mystery plays that formed a part of religious festivals in England and other parts of Europe during the Middle Ages. The mystery plays were complex retellings of legends based on biblical themes, originally performed in Cathedrals, but later becoming more linked to the secular celebrations that grew up around religious festivals. The foundation for professional players that performed on the Elizabethan stage were actually companies of players attached to households of noblemen which performed seasonally in various locations. These places were called private theatres. The authorities from London were hostile to public performances, but it was overmatched by the Queen's taste for plays, so theatres sprng up in suburbs, accesible to city dwellers- therefore they were called public theatres.

Here are several examples of such theatres: The Theatre, constructed in Shoreditch in1676, the Curtain Theatre in 1577, the Rose in 1597, the Swan in 1595, the Globe in 1599 and the Fortune in 1600. The most popular out of these theatres is probably the Globe, due to the fact that the famous playwright Shakespeare actually performed on its stage.

As you can see, these theatres were usually three stories high, built around an open space at the centre. They were polygonal in plan and were usually build of timber, lath and plaster.

PLAYWRIGHTS The growing population of London, the growing wealth of its people, and their fondness for spectacle produced a dramatic literature of remarkable variety, quality, and extent. Although most of the plays written for the Elizabethan stage have been lost, over 600 remain. William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson are two examples of playwrights who were also actors. Other playwrights: Christopher Marlowe.

GENRES -history play- English or European history, lives of kings (Richard III, Henry V by Shakespeare), Edward II by Christopher Marlowe, A Larum for London -tragedy-Dr. Faustus, the Jew of Malta by Marlowe, the four tragedies by Shakespeare(Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth) -comedy- they would deal satiraclly with life in London-"The Shoemaker's Holiday" by Thomas Dekker.