During the
Elizabethan era there were three different venues for
Elizabethan plays:
The Inn-yard
The original
play venue! Large taverns and inns showed plays in their
yards! These inn-yards were surrounded by balconies which
led to the lodgings for travellers
The Open air
Amphitheatre
Like the Globe
Theatre - used during the summer months - audience capacity
up to 1500
The Playhouse
Like the
Blackfriars theatre - an indoor theatre, more expensive,
suitable for more select audiences but open to anyone -
audience capacity up to 700
BLACKFRIARS HISTORY
The building,
with its large hall, was located in the City of London on
the site of the dissolved 13th-century Dominican monastery
where the Dominican monks wore black robes - hence the name
Black Friars
In 1538 the
monastery was closed due to the Dissolution of the
Monasteries by King Henry VIII and the building was
subsequently used by the Privy Council
Blackfriars was
the location of many historic events, such as the divorce
hearing of Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) and King Henry
VIII (1491-1547) in 1529
A troupe of boy
actors called the 'Chapel Children' first used
Blackfriars as a Playhouse
Blackfriars was
purchased by Burbage for £600 in 1596 but was not able to
use it as a theatre due to objections from local residents
and City of London officials until 1608 see
Public plays banned in
City of London
The picture at
the top of the page of the Blackfriars Playhouse theatre
illustrates what the Playhouse looked like
THE BLACKFRIARS PLAYHOUSE
THEATRE
The premises at
Blackfriars was well equipped with artificial lighting and
other amenities
Burbage made
alterations and improvements to the Playhouse and was able
to present various special effects due to its trap doors and
wires and belts used to hang props and lower actors. The
troupe performed at Blackfriars during the winter months
while continuing to spend the summers at the Globe
The cheapest
tickets were 2d, double the cost at the Globe
The Blackfriars
Playhouse was a great success! the acting troupe had a
permanent base for their winter productions. The profits
increased! The actors and owners became richer!
The King’s Men
acting company used Blackfriars until 1642 when it was
closed during the English Civil War
The Blackfriars
playhouse fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished
on the 6th of August, 1655
