Most plays were performed outside of London in places such as Bristol because thease places had proper theatres whereas places like London either didn’t have any or they weren’t yet built.
What was London like in Elizabethan times?
Only wealthy traders and manufacturers worked and lived in London which was handy because they were always able to afford the theatre. London was also home to many migrants that came from the countryside and Europe. In fact the population grew from 50,000 residents to over 200,000.
St Paul's Cathedral was a big landmark at time and it invited many crowds because it was a place to socialise, do business and worship. However, the Cathedral was also a place in which prostitutes and pickpockets thrived.
The main way out of town was either by crossing the famous London Bridge or by catching a river taxi (a boat that crossed the River Themes like the bridge).
Who were attending the theatre?
By the 1600s, London theatres had 20,000 theatre goers per week. London also happened to be home to Royalty and the nobility as well as rich noblemen became patrons or theatre companies that gave the local theatres financial support.
The Globe was built in 1599 and seated 3000 people because it was such a popular means of entertainment at the time. Everyone attended the theatre but dependant on class and income, were either seated or stood in different areas. Standing cost 1 penny, 2 pennies for seating, 3 pennies for seating and a cushion and up to 6 pennies for the most expensive seating areas of the Globe. Many people that attended the theatre and were standing complained of the smell. They were able to to purchase and eat apples, nuts, oranges, gingerbread and drink ale during the performances; however, there were no toilets and many people urinated on the floor and unwashed people smelt. Manors were also very different back then and so rights and unpolite behaviour was also very common.
Royalty loved the theatre and Elizabeth the First and James the First summoned them to perform in their private courts. The theatre however did have competition because cock fighting and bear baiting were a common and well liked means of entertainment.
Shakespearean theatre always used male actors to play both the female and male roles. However, a theatre outside of London held a show in which females played the female roles and males played the male’s roles. This however didn’t go down well with the audience who were outraged and responded by throwing apples at the female performers and damaging the theatre’s furniture as well as hissing at the performers.
Information sourced from (http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets)
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