William Shakespeare: Life, Works, and The Globe Theatre

William Shakespeare: Biography

Born: 1564 | Died: 1616
Profession: Poet and playwright
Origins: Stratford-upon-Avon

Family Background

• Father: John Shakespeare (glove maker and alderman)
• Mother: Mary Arden (daughter of an affluent farmer)
• Wife: Anne Hathaway
• Children: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet (Hamnet died at age 11)

Professional Career

• Actor
• Part-owner of The Lord Chamberlain's Men (later The King's Men)

The Company of Boys (1999)

A troupe of boy actors directed by Arby. They rehearsed in Cambridge, USA, before traveling to London to perform Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre.

Shakespearean Literary Styles

• Comedy: Happy endings, entanglements, disguises, and love (e.g., A Midsummer Night's Dream).
• Tragedy: Sad endings, death, betrayal, revenge, and drama (e.g., Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth).
• Historical: Based on royal figures, kings, battles, and politics (e.g., Henry V).
• Tragicomedy: A mix of tragedy and comedy with a hopeful ending (e.g., The Tempest).

The Globe Theatre

Built in 1599 by James Burbage, the theatre was a circular wooden structure featuring three levels of roofed galleries overlooking the yard.

Architectural Features

• Groundlings: Poorer audience members who stood in the roofless yard.
• Main Stage (Apron Stage): Advanced toward the audience and covered by a thatched roof.
• Trapdoor: Used for special effects.
• Tiring House: Dressing room located behind the stage.
• Inner Stage: Used for secret scenes.
• Upper Stage: Used for specific scenes, with a musicians' area above.
• Performance Signal: A flag was raised to indicate a show.

Audience and Environment

Tickets started at one penny. The audience could eat, drink, and comment aloud during performances. The theatre was located outside London, across the River Thames, due to its disreputable status. Notably, women did not act; female roles were played by young boys with high-pitched voices.

The Two Nats

Nat Field (1999)

An orphan who lost his parents to cancer and suicide. He uses acting to escape his grief. He accidentally travels back in time to 1599, where he meets William Shakespeare and finds a father figure to help him heal.

Nat Field (1599)

A child from the 16th century suffering from the bubonic plague. He mysteriously exchanges places with the Nat from 1999, spending his time in a modern hospital recovering while the other Nat experiences the past.