Building
Theatre buildings were made up of 3 stories. Levels 1 & 2, had Backstage: dressing and storage areas while Level 3, Upper Stage: could represent balcony, walls of a castle, bridge of a ship. The inside of the building resembled courtyard of an inn. The Proscenium or stage was a large platform without a curtain or a stage setting with 2 ornate pillars which supported a canopy. The stage roof (underpart of canopy) was called “the heavens” it was elaborately painted to depict the sun, moon, stars, planets. There were trap doors for entrances and exits of ghosts and an area under stage called Hell. There were also 2 large doors at back so that the actors made entrances and exits in full view of audience. There was also an inner stage: a recess with a balcony area above. The floor was full of ash mixed with hazelnut shells from snacks the audience ate during performances. The plays were held in the afternoon since the theatre building had no roof, there was no artificial lighting and no scenery.
Acting companies
They developed from the medieval trade guilds and were composed of only boys and men. Young boys performed female roles
Audience
Elizabethan theatres could accommodate 2000-3000 people from all walks of life. Well-to-do spectators sat in covered galleries around stage while commoners, that is most of the audience stood in the yard around the platform stage – they were called “groundlings” and paid 1 penny for the show.