Probably the most famous Shakespearean theatre is the Globe. Built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain' s Men, it saw many of Shakespeare's play first performances, the first being Julius Caesar in 1599. Others include As You Like It, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. However other playwrights did write for the Globe, for example Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker and John Fletcher.
The land on which it was built was owned by Thomas Brend and on 29 June 1613 it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt by June 1614 but was closed again 1642 until a modern reconstruction by Sam Wanamaker was opened in 1997 750 feet from its original site.
Theatre was performed both inside and out, much like it is today, in conventional theatres or amphitheatres.
Indoor theatres were a lot smaller holing around only 500 people because they were often built in other buildings previously built. They were often more expensive due to shelter from the elements ranging from six pence to two and six pence. For lighting they also relied on candle light and the windows.
Adult companies often used the outdoor playhouses, with only boy companies using the indoor theatres up until 1609. These boy companies were made of children from the ages of seven to twenty, which had been set up privately by choirs and schools. They'd normally only play once a week compared to the adults every night showings. Audiences were thought to be more intellectual indoors, with more music, more more small, sparkly props such as jewels and pearls, and more speeches than action. Cynthia’s Revels was a play written by Ben Jonson in 1600 which certainly contained more speeches than action. However some plays were produced both inside and out.
Outdoor playhouses were a lot bigger, often holding thousands of people and were more accessible for most classes, with "yard" tickets selling for only a pence. The "yard", however, was open to the elements, due to the theatre having no roof. Most theatres had a roof covering the stage and higher galleries, where supposed higher classes sat, although some didn't. Being bigger meant that backstage was larger and they could store more props and costume and had more room to perform 'special effects'.
Commonly women's roles were played by men in all male cast, with some comic female parts having specialist clowns or actors taking the role. As well as acting, actors had to sing, dance, play instruments or fence on stage.
Costumes were often not accurate within historical contexts, although often togas appeared for a Roman plays. Typically they wore modern dress, especially the leading roles. Costumes were major investments for acting companies and aided the "spectacle" of the plays. Often they were second-hand clothes that'd previously been owned and worn by nobles.
Stages were often bare, with little scenery apart from what was needed, things like a throne, a grave, or a bed. Exits and entrances were in view of audience members, however they did have other options; actors could descend from the "heavens" above the stage or enter and exit from the "hell" below through a trapdoor. Characters that had to talk from "above" might appear in galleries midway between the stage and the heavens or in the Globe may have appeared on the balcony.
Large open playhouses, like the Globe, were good in the right weather, but, unlike the indoor theatres couldn't operated all year round. The smaller indoor theatres were also more intimate, giving the audience a more personal experience.
I can see both pros and cons for the indoor and outdoor theatres, believing that both have unique qualities that can help or hinder performances. I think depending on what kind of play is being produced, depends what theatre should be used because plays that rely on an audience listening to what's being said would not work as well in a large outdoor playhouse due to the huge crowds and other worldly noises. It may earn more money to have your plays performed in indoor theatres, however with the cheaper tickets available in the outdoors it meant that your content reached a wider range of people. Shakespeare was lucky to see the benefits of both types of theatre.
From a 21st century view, the issue of having all male casts, I feel it brings humour to serious plays which may have a good message but has been overshadowed by the woman being played by a man.
References:
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/the_globe.pdf
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/indoor_theatres.pdf
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/playhouses.pdf
http://www.folger.edu/shakespeares-theater
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discovery-space/fact-sheets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_Theatre
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