The Theatre and Popular Entertainment Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What is meant by an Elizabethan playhouse?

A playhouse was a special building for acting plays. It had an open roof, a stage that stuck out, and galleries for the audience.

Name one famous Elizabethan theatre and give one fact about it.

One famous theatre was the Globe Theatre in London. It was a large open-air playhouse on the south bank of the River Thames.

Where in London were most theatres built, and why there?

Most theatres stood just outside the city walls, in suburbs like Southwark. They were built there because the city council would not allow them inside London.

Why did many ordinary people enjoy going to the theatre?

Tickets were cheap, so many people could go. The plays had exciting stories, music and jokes, and people of all classes mixed in the crowd.

Who were the 'groundlings' in an Elizabethan theatre?

Groundlings were poor people. They paid the lowest price and stood in the open yard in front of the stage.

What was a typical theatre performance like in Elizabethan times?

Plays were held in the afternoon, using daylight. There was very little scenery, and all the parts, even female roles, were played by men or boys.

Name two famous Elizabethan playwrights.

William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe were two famous playwrights in this period.

What was an acting company, and why did it need a patron?

An acting company was a group of actors who worked together. They needed a rich noble patron to give money and protection so they seemed respectable.

Name two cruel sports that were popular entertainments in Elizabethan England.

Bear-baiting and cock-fighting were common blood sports. People watched animals fight and saw this as entertainment.

What kinds of music and dancing did people enjoy for entertainment?

People sang ballads and simple songs. They played instruments like pipes and drums, and danced in groups at fairs and feasts.

Give two other popular games or sports in Elizabethan England.

People enjoyed football, archery, bowls and wrestling. They also gambled for fun with cards or dice.

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