UAL Level 3 Diploma Performing Arts {Acting}

Context There are many differences between modern and Shakespearean theatre, with differences in technology and acting style and so on. One key difference is that women were not allowed to act in the Elizabethan era so all the actors would have been male, even the female characters.  In modern theatre we use a blackout, and sometimes a sound effect, to get the audience's attention and show that the play is about to begin. However, in Shakespearean theatre they did not have this, so the actors had to draw attention themselves. This meant that their naturalistic acting had a melodramatic tone as they needed to project and use grand gestures to maintain the audience's focus. Shakespeare's audience was a lot less respectful of theatre than the modern audience, who will sit quietly throughout. Shakespeare's audience, especially the ground-lings who had to stand in front of the stage for the entirety of the play. They were loud and did not always give their full atte...

Shakespeare Timeline 1564  ~ Shakespeare born in Stratford Upon Avon. Date of birth is unknown, but assumed to be April 23.  1571 ~ Shakespeare started grammar school at 7. 1582 ~ Shakespeare, at 18, marries Anne Hathaway (26) on November 27. 1583 ~ Shakespeare's first child Susana was born on May 26, 5 months after the wedding (she lived to be 66). 1585 February 2 ~ Shakespeare's twins Judith and Hamnet are born (Hamnet dies at 11, while Judith lived to 77). 1585-1592 ~ Shakespeare left his family in Stratford to join a company of actors as a performer as well as a playwright.  1589-1590 ~ Shakespeare is believed to have written Henry VI Part One in this year. 1590-1591 ~ Shakespeare is believed to have written Henry VI Part Two and Henry VI Part III . 1592 ~ Shakespeare received criticism for lacking in originality as he borrowed ideas for his plays. Theatres in London close because of the plague. 1592-1593 ~ Shakespeare i...