8-1Costumes&Sets

What were costumes and sets like in Elizabethan England? //Answer prepared by Lucy S.// In Shakespeare’s theatre, the sets were quite simple and the costumes were extravagant according to __Shakespeare for Dummies__ by John Doyle and Ray Lischner (16). There were no backdrops because the plays were literary and depended more on the actors and their lines. The actors could describe the scenery in their lines. This allowed each character to have a different view of the location. If there were backdrops, then the setting would be concrete and it would look the same to each character. “This had the advantage of allowing characters' reactions to a particular setting to provide an insight into their nature in a way which would be less effective, were scenery present,” according to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust website’s section “FAQs.” Setting descriptions from characters appealed more to the audience rather than detailed scenery. Just a simple movement of props could change the location of the scene. An ornate chair could be used as a throne to suggest that the location has changed to the court of a king. This permitted the play to flow smoothly without any intermissions or other interruptions. Because only a few props had to be changed, there were no long pauses between scenes. Characters could continue the play as they traveled to a new location. Sets were not as fancy or as detailed as they are today in modern productions.

An actor’s costume was probably his most expensive possession he owned according to authors Michael Dobson and Stanley Wells in their book __The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare__ (89 and 93). Occasionally, a company’s costumes would be more valuable than the theatre. These exquisite and expensive costumes were necessary to provide an excellent visual appeal of the theatre. Characters must dress appropriately to play their parts. For example, if a particular character is part of the upper class, he must have the most luxurious clothing. According to Terry Gray, author of the website __Mr. William Shakespeare__, actors obtained their costumes from upper class men after they died, through the servants. The men of rank would pass on most of their finest clothing to the servants. The clothing would not be suitable for a servant, so he would sell it to the actors. Historical accuracy in clothing was disregarded; a few small additions would do. For example, if an actor was wearing Greek clothing, but the play was not set in Greece, this detail was ignored. Outside of the theatre actors were not allowed to wear their fancy costumes. Doing so would be considered a crime by the Sumptuary Laws, which were in effect through 1603. According to the website __Elizabethan Era__ section “Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws,” the word “sumptuary” means expenditure, so it can be assumed that the Sumptuary Laws were created to control the expenditure of the people and ensure that the class structure (upper, middle, lower) was kept in place. Disobeying the Sumptuary Laws could result in the death penalty, so actors were always sure to change out of their theatre costumes before exiting the theatre. Costumes were a crucial part of theatre and undoubtedly contributed to the audience’s understanding and enjoyment of the play. Works Cited Dobson, Michael, and Stanley Wells. The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. New York City: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Doyle, John, and Ray Lischner. Shakespeare for Dummies. Foster City: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., 1999.

"Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws." Elizabethan-Era. Elizabethan Era. 6 Apr. 2009 .

Gray, Terry. "Theatre." Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet. 7 Mar. 2009. 7 Mar. 2009 .

"What sort of scenery would they have used in Shakespeare's theatre? ." Shakespeare. Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 6 Mar. 2009 .