Popular entertainment in Elizabethan times
Entertainment in Elizabethan England
Entertainment in Elizabethan England reflected the sharp divisions of society. The wealthy enjoyed elaborate banquets, hunting, jousting and masques at court, while ordinary people found pleasure in sports, festivals, taverns and, increasingly, the professional theatre. Both groups shared a taste for some forms of entertainment that modern audiences find uncomfortable — particularly the cruel animal sports that drew large crowds across the country.
Cruel Sports: Bear-Baiting and Cock-Fighting
Bear-baiting was one of the most popular entertainments of the age, enjoyed by people of all social classes — including Elizabeth I herself. A bear would be chained to a post in a circular arena (a “bear garden”) and set upon by trained dogs. London had several bear gardens on the south bank of the Thames, near what would become the theatre district. Cock-fighting was equally widespread, with purpose-built cockpits in many towns. Both sports involved gambling, which added to their appeal for spectators at all social levels.
These entertainments were not considered cruel in the way we would regard them today. They were a normal part of Elizabethan life, enjoyed on public holidays and Sundays. Puritans objected, but largely on moral grounds: they worried that such entertainments drew people away from church attendance and encouraged idleness and gambling, rather than expressing concern for the animals.
Bear-baiting was enjoyed by all social classes, including Elizabeth I. Puritans opposed it not for reasons of animal welfare but because it encouraged idleness and gambling, and drew people away from church on Sundays.
Entertainment for the Wealthy
The Elizabethan nobility and upper gentry enjoyed a range of pastimes unavailable to ordinary people. Hunting and hawking required land, horses and trained birds — luxuries of the rich. The royal court was a centre of culture: music, dancing and poetry were all prized accomplishments. Elizabeth I herself was an accomplished musician and dancer. Court masques were lavish productions combining music, dance, poetry and magnificent costumes. Tournaments and jousting continued into the early years of Elizabeth’s reign, though they declined in popularity as the century progressed. For those below the highest nobility, bowling, tennis and archery were popular, with archery practice actually required by law for men of certain ages.
The Rise of the Elizabethan Theatre
The most significant cultural development of the Elizabethan age was the rise of the professional playhouse. Before this period, plays were performed by travelling companies in inn yards, market squares or at court. The first permanent public playhouse in England, known simply as “The Theatre,” was built in Shoreditch, London, in 1576 by James Burbage. This was a pivotal moment: it created a permanent commercial theatre industry. More playhouses followed — the Curtain (1577), the Rose (1587), the Swan (c.1595) and, most famously, the Globe Theatre, built in Southwark in 1599 by the company known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
Elizabethan playhouses were typically circular or polygonal wooden structures with a central open-air yard. The stage projected into this yard, and three tiers of covered galleries surrounded it. ‘Groundlings’ — ordinary people who paid a penny — stood in the open yard around the stage, while wealthier patrons sat in the covered galleries. The stage was large and thrust into the audience, allowing for different acting areas and creating intimacy. There was no scenery in the modern sense; location was established through words and the audience’s imagination. Performances took place in the afternoon by natural light. Audiences were mixed and lively — eating, drinking, talking and reacting noisily.
The first permanent public playhouse in England was “The Theatre,” built in Shoreditch, London, in 1576 by James Burbage. The Globe Theatre, built in Southwark in 1599, became the most famous Elizabethan playhouse and was closely associated with William Shakespeare.
Attitudes Towards the Theatre
Not everyone welcomed the new playhouses. The Puritans strongly opposed the theatre on moral and religious grounds. They argued that plays encouraged immorality, that theatres were dens of crime and disease, and that performances on Sundays competed with church attendance. London’s city authorities largely agreed, which is why the early playhouses were built just outside the city boundaries — in the “Liberties,” areas beyond the jurisdiction of the city council.
In 1597 the city authorities briefly ordered the demolition of all London’s playhouses, though this was never fully carried out. The theatre had powerful patrons, however: noble families sponsored acting companies (the Chamberlain’s Men were under the patronage of the Lord Chamberlain, and later became the King’s Men under James I). Elizabeth herself enjoyed theatrical performances; she had plays performed at court regularly. This royal favour helped protect the theatre industry from its opponents.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the most celebrated playwright of the Elizabethan age, though he was one of many talented writers working in this period. Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and Thomas Kyd were among his contemporaries. Plays ranged from histories (presenting English kings and their struggles) to tragedies, comedies and romances. The popular appeal of theatre was broad: a wealthy patron and a penny-paying groundling might watch the same play. This cultural breadth made the theatre unusual — few other forms of entertainment crossed so many social boundaries.