Macbeth and Shakespeare's Theater (340-341)
1. What happened with the very first performance of the Macbeth that made people superstitious
of it?
2. Where was the first performance of Macbeth?
3. What did outdoor theaters look like?
4. Where did the poor patrons stay and where did the wealthier patrons stay to watch the play?
5. How would patrons show their disapproval for something in the play?
6. Why were women not allowed to perform?
7. What happened in 1613 to the Globe?
8. What has happened since the Globe's official reopening in 1997?
9. What were the drawbacks to having an open-air design theater?
10. What was the trapdoor of the stage used for?

Answer No 1)

Many folklore claimed that Macbeth was cursed from the beginning when it was performed the first time on stage. During it's first performance, the actor who had to play the role of Macbeth died suddenly due to which the play was considered to be cursed. People also claimed that real daggers were used in the play for murdering King Duncan due to which the actor actually died.

Answer No 2)

The first known performance for Macbeth, written by Shakespeare, is known to be staged  in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. The performance took place on August 7, 1606. The play was performed for Kings James I and his brother-in-law. Various superstitions have been known to have aroused as a result of this play. After this, however, the play has been performed numerous times,.

Answer No 3)

The outdoor theaters, in the olden times, were not much developed. The stages were not fully developed or styled. It was the performance of the actors that mattered more than the style of the stage. The stage was built in such a way so that the wealthy patrons could have an easy access to it. The outdoor theater consisted of huge areas with  no covers where people would stand to watch the performance. For the patrons, a gallery was built where they could sit and watch the performance.

Answer No 4)

The theater had a central area with no covers. The poor patrons stood there to watch the play. The poor patrons would have to manage with the extreme weather conditions to watch a performance.The wealthier patrons paid for a sitting position. They could sit in the gallery of the hall to watch a play. If a king or a prince had to watch a play, he would be positioned in the center of the gallery from where he could get the best view of the play.

Answer No 5)  

The wealthier patrons were given the best seats to watch the play and the plays at those times focused on pleasing the wealthier patrons. If a patron was not pleased with s performance he would generally remain quiet or not pay for the next performance. On the other hand, if the patron was happy from the performance he would appreciate it with pleasing gestures.

Answer No 6)

In the olden times, women were not allowed to play in theaters because people thought that  it might be dangerous. The males had to perform the roles of the male as well as the female characters. The people thought that having men to play the roles, both as male and females, neutralized the danger. Also, at olden times, gender discrimination was common and women were also not allowed to visit the theaters.

Answer No 7)

In 1613, the Globe theater was burned completely from a cannon shot. It happened in the summers of 1613, the day was hot and the fire spread rapidly which even burned down a nearby house completely. Although no deaths were reported to have occurred during the incident but the fire proved to be the end of the most famous theater in England.

Answer No 8)

In 1997, Queen Elizabeth II  reopened the Globe Theater in a location  very near to the original Globe Theater. The making of the Globe started again in 1996 and it was ready to be opened in 1997. Since then, many modifications were made in the theater. Today, the theater is used as a tourist attraction and stands as a huge complex containing an outdoor theater, a winter theater, a museum, and an education center.

Answer No 9)

One of the major drawbacks of the open- air theater were that people had to stand in open areas to watch the play. In summers, people became tanned  and had to bear the extreme heat for watching the performance. In unexpected weather conditions, such as a storm, the play had to be ended and people had to run looking for a safe place to hide. There were always chances of the show being cancelled at any moment.

Answer No 10)

A trapdoor was usually built on the stage so that a dramatic entrance of any actor during the play could occur. Usually, the height of the stages at that time were about five feet hence, an area beneath the stage was built where the actors would wait for their entrance. The idea of the trapdoor was considered excellent at that time as those actors which were to play leading roles could be given a dramatic and powerful entrance.

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