Prime Time 7, Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks

In 1613 the Globe burned down during a performance when the thatched roof caught fire. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. It was soon rebuilt. Performances continued until 1642 when the theatres in London were closed by the Puritans. Two years later it was dismantled. The actors had to face a noisy crowd. They had to react to their shouting and cheering. Women were not allowed to act on stage. The parts of the ladies had to be played by boys. Hardly any props were used. The audience had to imagine the situation and the texts had to give the people clues where a scene was set, e. g. an actor with a lamp in his hand meant that the scene was set at night. The times were rough. The theatres had to compete with bear- and bull-baiting, prostitution and even with public executions. Shakespeare was not only a playwright, he was also an actor and he owned shares in the Globe Theatre. The costumes were chosen for their symbolic meaning, not for their historic accuracy. A red coat was the garment of a king, a helmet was the sign of a soldier, but it could be a Roman helmet in a play about the Middle Ages. The Globe Theatre was a twenty-sided polygon, a “wooden O”, which means that only the stage and the galleries had a thatched roof. The centre of the theatre, the yard, was open to rain, sunshine, wind and snow. Writing: An article You have decided to use your notes and write an article for an online encyclopaedia for teenagers about the original Globe Theatre, its history and its development. In your article you should: • outline the beginning • describe life and work at the theatre • evaluate its importance Give your article a title . Write around 250 words . 2  143 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv