What sort of scenery would they have used in Shakespeare's theatre? PDF Print E-mail

Scenery in the sence of backdrops was not used on the Elizabethan stage.  Drama was more literary than scenic and relied upon the actors and their lines more than scenery.  This meant that a simple movement of props could allow changes of location within a scene.  In his introduction to The Oxford Shakespeare (The Complete Works, 2nd Edition, 2005), Stanley Wells points out that this had the advantage of allowing characters' reactions to a particular setting to provide an insight into their nature in a way which would be less effective, were scenery present.  For example in The Tempest, idealistic Gonzalo sees the island as lush and green, whilst cynical Antonio considers it 'tawny'.  Different doors at the back of the stage and a canopy from which a chair could be winched as well as a trap door in the floor of the stage enabled actors to build up a sense of location.  Props such as tables, chairs and cauldrons were also used.  a multi-purpose stage booth (a raised section) could serve as a dais for a king, a tomb, a pulpit etc. with small adjustments.

 

 
< Prev   Next >