Shakespeare's Two Playhouses
Repertory and Theatre Space at the Globe and the Blackfriars, 1599–1613

Sarah Dustagheer offers the first in-depth, comparative analysis of the performance conditions of the Globe and the Blackfriars Theatres.

Sarah Dustagheer (Author)

9781107190160, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 August 2017

236 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.5 cm, 0.46 kg

'Dustagheer's book should prove valuable to those interested in how the history and former repertory of the Blackfriars impacted what the King's Men produced for it, as well as those working on the influence of the Reformation on period playwrights. It will also benefit those interested in architectural and spatial comparisons between the two venues, given its sound history and informed speculations.' Brett Gamboa, Renaissance Quarterly

In what ways did playwrights like Shakespeare respond to the two urban locations of the Globe and the Blackfriars? What was the effect of their different acoustic and visual experiences on actors and audiences? What did the labels 'public' for the Globe and 'private' for the Blackfriars, actually mean in practice? Sarah Dustagheer offers the first in-depth, comparative analysis of the performance conditions of the two sites. This engaging study examines how the social, urban, sensory and historical characteristics of these playhouses affected dramatists, audiences and actors. Each chapter provides new interpretations of seminal King's Men's works written as the company began to perform in both settings, including The Alchemist, The Tempest and Henry VIII. Presenting a rich and compelling account of the two early modern theatres, the book also suggests fresh insights into recent contemporary productions at Shakespeare's Globe, London and the new Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Introduction
1. Social space
2. Urban space
3. Playing space
4. Haunted space
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Shakespeare plays [DDS], Theatre management [ANS], Theatre studies [AN]