Good morning Class 4!
How are you today?
Today in History we are going to travel back in time to the Tudor times, when Shakespeare was alive…
In 1599, London’s Globe Theatre was built. The theatre was made famous through the performance of Shakespeare’s plays. Although, theatre was very different back then…
Women were not allowed to act in plays as this was seen as ‘unladylike’ in those days.
The plays took place in the open air and only in daylight as they had no way of lighting up stages in Tudor times. Candles were not allowed because the theatre was made of wood and so candles would have been dangerous.
People arrived to the theatre in different ways. The wealthy would get the ferry across the River Thames to reach the theatre whereas the poor would have walked across London Bridge. The wealthy and the poor were divided even in the theatre too…
The most expensive seats – for the rich only – were actually on the stage itself. Imagine the great views they would have had of the performance. They would be able to see the action close up and hear everything the actors were saying.
The next most expensive seats were in covered galleries which ran around the theatre. This allowed people to watch the play but kept them out of the worst of the weather as most theatres had no roof. Some of these seats would have been very high up indeed… an exciting way to view a play… if you’re not afraid of heights!
The cheapest places were in the so-called pit. People would pay about a penny to see the play and they stood for the duration of the play. Rowdy behaviour amongst the audience was common in the ‘pits’. Some plays could last up to 4 hours and the people in the pits would have to stand for the entire duration. Plus, the pits would have been really squashed and cramped and very smelly. They had buckets around the edge for people to go to the toilet in!
If the audience did not enjoy the plays, they would have thrown things at the actors on stage such as rotten vegetables!
Your task today is to imagine that you, as a Tudor, took a trip to the Globe Theatre to see one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Describe your experience from your journey there, to where you were seated (or stood) and how this felt. What could you see? Then explain the atmosphere. Were people shouting things out or did they enjoy the play? Did you enjoy the play? Would you visit the theatre again after your experience?
You can choose whether to write from the perspective of a poor Tudor or a wealthy Tudor but you must recognise that the lives of the wealthy and the poor were very different in those days. From your description of your experience we should be able to guess which perspective you are writing from without you having to say!
After that, read the work of others in the class to see if they had similar or different experiences to you!
You can write your post on the blog or hand write it and send in a photo for me to post onto the blog so that your friends can read it. Try to make your work detailed, not just 2 or 3 lines!
I can’t wait to read your work!
From Miss Lee 🙂
FOR A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS BLOG, PLEASE CLICK HERE: History
Hello Miss Lee, how are you doing today?
Here is my work.
Today I took a trip to the Globe Theatre to see one of Shakespeare’s plays. I travelled by ferry across the River Thames and then walked to get to the Theatre. I then paid for my seat and went to find it. I discovered that my seat was in the covered galleries which ran around the theatre.
I was extremely happy that I had got a seat in the covered galleries because I had a roof above me and a wonderful view of the act.
When the play started, I could see everything. After a while , people started shouting and throwing rotten vegetables at the actors. I was so angry and confused. I was angry because I couldn’t hear what the actors were saying and I was confused because I thought that the play was wonderful.
Hello Sophie, I am well thank you, how are you? It was great to talk to you earlier!
A great explanation of your day at the theatre! Were you sitting up high in the gallery? What did the pit look like from where you were sat?
Last night I went to bed in my room in my house. This morning I woke up I was still in the same house and room, I looked out my window and l wasn’t in the same time and place. I went downstairs to ask my parents what day of the year it was and they said Tuesday 12th May 1599, I was panicking. I went for a walk to calm down. I saw people who were wearing fancy clothing and were carrying rotten vegetables and fresh roses. I asked a man were are you all going he said to William Shakespeare’plays he, said would you like to come I said why not I followed him to the theatre to watch Williams Shakespeare play. Then he gave me a rose and a rotten vegetable I said what’s this for he said you have to through the vegetables on stage or the rose ?they did a fantastic job and made no mistakes at all instead of througing vegetables they through ?and it was a lovely play I would to do this again.
Well done Ciana, sounds like a fun day! Where about were you sat in the theatre? Did you have a good view of the stage?
Once apon a time me and my family wanted to go to the theatre,the globe theatre my parents scraped enough money to look nice.We then went to the theatre but it was a very long walk because we didn’t have any vehicles.Once we got there we paid are tickets (1p a bargain) Maybe not because we stood up for the whole play which was 2 Hours but I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the play itself i like the actors and there passion to act, I didn’t really care that I stood up for two hours ok maybe I did but that doesn’t matter.the play was the tempest and my favourite part was the storm because It was dramatic and exciting i sometimes I didn’t know what they said.but overall I really like it.
A wonderful recount of the day Albert! Well done! Although the standing up doesn’t sound too fun, I would much prefer to sit back and relax at the theatre! But for 1p a ticket maybe standing isn’t so bad!
Hello ? everyone. I am going to pretend to be a rich tutor…
Dear diary,
Today, I went to the globe ? theatre with my family.?? I went to see the tempest. It was great fun. Should I tell you about the seating? The seating was very High up, in fact. I kind of got a little scared. But my mother comforted me. Where we where sitting was brilliant! It had these pillars so we wouldn’t fall of. And we could hear all of the words the actors where saying. By the time we got to the middle of the play, there was rotten vegetables being thrown about. I even got to throw one! But then I got a rotten tomato ?in my face???! The show was nice in the first 5mins. It was a fun experience. And I hope you can join me as well.
??????????
Well done Holly! Very descriptive, I can almost picture exactly where you were sitting and your view of the stage!
Hello Miss Lee I have chosen to write mine in a diary entry form –
Dear diary,
As I entered the globe theatre I felt the excitement of the crowd around me. It wasn’t like any other theatre i’ve been to, the red velvet seats were as soft as can be. The crowd screamed and shouted all waiting for the play to begin! The long, grand pillars surrounded the seats it felt as if we were in the queen’s palace.
The play was so good I wanted to watch it over and over again it felt like a dream come true, if I ever got chance to visit the globe theatre again I would definitely do so!
This was no doubt the best experience of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Nina,
Sounds like you were lucky to travel back in time as a rich Tudor! I’m glad you got to enjoy the play on a comfy seat!
dear diary,
today was the greatest thing you could ever see with your own eyes!mother and father never take me with them to see it!so on my 12 birthday, they took me to the….THEATRE!!!!!!!it was great news for me, my parents, not so much.they said we could get the most expensive seats in the theatre, but there was this lady she recognised.It was her friend!and she bring her child, too! I never say this about a friend of mine in my diary, but in her diary, she told me she at least wrote 10 diary entries about me…your just wasting your pages, your choice, not mine!(well,kind of.)she was holding a book called ‘mallory towers’ by Enid Blyton.i was holding a book, too, .it was called ‘treasure island’ by Robert Louis Stephenson.she told me,”whats your book ’bout?”she asked me.i replied by a mouthful of popcorn,”pirates”.”pirates?sounds like a good book!what happens?”I put my covered salt finger up to my washed cheeks, and whirled it around.that meant I was eating and couldn’t bare to speak with my mouth open.mother says that if you speak with your mouth open you’ll not be unladylike, like her…”oh.well it’s about time you start eating.i’ll wait.”so I chewed and swallowed down the whole caramel popcorn in one go,and finished.”hadn’t read it yet.”I replied.”well of course you have!” she said ,
sarcastically.i rolled my eyes at her, and opened a plastic bag, inside it was a egg and lettuce sandwich.i started chewing it very,very,slowly. “now hush! “she said.””I don’t want to miss another part!all thanks to luna Hawkins!”
Very descriptive Amarissa! I can picture you waiting to enter the theatre holding your popcorn! Sounds like a good day out!
Hi Miss Lee, I have tried to write the experience of both a rich Tudor and a poor Tudor going to see Romeo and Juliet. I am not sure if some of the words I have used are acceptable for the blog and if they aren’t can you please edit them out of this. I have tried to get it to read like I imagine they would have spoken based on some books I have read and TV shows I have seen. Thank you ?
A. Today I saw the most exquisite show I’ve ever seen! I saw Romeo and Juliet. I got here on a 4 hour ride from the countryside to London in a horse and carriage. I had the best view! It was £5, but that gave me the best seat on the house! I had the most wonderful experience I have ever had and I am certain his style won’t go out for centuries! The only disadvantage was that it was about 6 hours and my bottom started to get a bit sore.
B. Today I saw a play that was such a useless thing! I mean, boys dressed up in frilly dresses and make up with the most embarrassing lines like “Do you love me?”. That is the type of job for a female, even me husband thinks it’s wrong! And yet we live in a hut and haven’t had an education! Lucky I had some spare mouldy roast tomato to throw! We even had to walk all the bloomin’ way to London! I can’t believe we had to stand in a pit to watch a 6 hour nonsense called ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Can you imagine that I heard some rich lady complaining that her bottom was sore from sitting! I’d like to see ‘er standing for six bleedin’ hours! I wouldn’t have complained to ‘ave me bum on something’!
Can you guess which one is the rich or poor⁉ ?
Dear Diary,
I just went to a Shakespeare play and it was amazing! I bought the most expensive seats!
The seats were SO nice. I’m sure the people stood didn’t like the play because most of them were throwing rotten tomatoes. I’m surprised the actors stayed in character with all that tomato juice on their heads and faces. BLEH!
The theatre was so big! And the stage was heavily decorated… I think, although the people standing were throwing tomatoes. The people enjoyed the play! But I dont think the actors did.
I ,for one, loved the play! I would ( and will ) visit it again!
-Aisha
( I wrote it in my book and on the blog. )
Great work Aisha! At least you were sat far away from the rotten tomatoes! Those poor actors!
I traveled in my chariot to get to the globe theatre. I payed for the most expensive seat so my wife and my children could have the best experience. Unfortunately the show was really bad so we basically just waste our money but lucky I prepared for this I bought a box of rotten tomato for my family to throw at the actors. I will never go there again
Hello Alfred! A great recount! I enjoyed reading it… Although your trip to the theatre does not sound very enjoyable!
One day I went to a theatre to watch one of Shakespeare’s play. I was really looking forwards to the show and I walked down the bumpy roads just in time to see the roofless theatre. As I was rich, I had paid a lot of money to get the best seat in the theatre and I’m telling you they were really expensive. I could see and hear everything the actors were saying and doing very clearly. I could see the play was about to begin so I sat down and the beautiful costumes rose gracefully into the air. The play was called ‘ The Tempest ‘ and the front row became quite scary as the actors pretended to throw a mighty storm at the spectators. I could hear some other people on the back row growling and shouting ‘Booo!’ Then all the instruments started getting louder, I heard the thunder and the lighting flashing and crackling. After 4 hours of watching, I finally clapped, the actors bowed low. I think I would love to visit the theatre again!
Elisa
So much interesting detail Elisa, well done! I am glad you enjoyed your trip to the theatre… The comfy seats must have helped!
From Somerset house me and my friends took our boat and went to the Globe Theatre to see Two Gentlemen of Verona. I was wearing black velvet clothes with a white collar. I was seated right above the stage and it was a beautiful, sunny day. I really enjoyed the play because had lots of twists. Also the people in the pit enjoyed it as they behaved very well and did not throw any vegetable ?.
Great work Paolo! Good to read that you travelled back in time as a wealthy Tudor and enjoyed some great seats in the theatre!
I was seated on the rich balcony, I wasn’t that comfortable but it was comfortable enough to watch the theatre . The show was good but most of the theatre was singing. I could see loads of people and the beautiful sky. It was sunny and a bit stormy.
Some people shouted at the play but people loved it.
I liked the play but it was a bit boring .
Yes I would like to visit the theatre after this experience but has to be a bit better.
Great recount Giordano! You are lucky you were a wealthy Tudor and got a seat, although I agree the seats wouldn’t have been as comfy as the seats we have in our theatres or cinemas nowadays!
Hi Miss Lee,
Today I decided to go watch a shakespeare play. I got the ferry across the river Thames to reach the Globe theatre, the seats I got were actually on the stage itself. I had a fabulous view. I felt exited but also nervous. As the play slowly began to start I could see tears in peoples eyes. I loved the play but lots of people who stood in the pit kept on shouting and were even throwing rotten vegetables!! It was very loud so I could not hear what the actors were saying. Once the play was over I traveled back home by ferry again. I really liked the play but it was too loud. So next time I go to the theatre I will go on a less busy day so there will be less noise.
Thanks, Tijne
Hello Tijne!
Wow you had great seats! A shame the people in the pit were too noisy!
Hi miss!
This lesson sounds interesting!
I will send you my work when finished. Are we aloud to say that we threw rotten vegetables because we didn’t like it.
Did William Shakespeare act in his plays?
Thank you.
Hello Stella! I am glad you have found this lesson interesting! Yes, you can say you threw rotten vegetables… I know you wouldn’t do this in real life but we are just imagining we are Tudors and sadly, for the actors, this is how the Tudors sometimes reacted to the plays. Yes Shakespeare did act in some of his plays as he was part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men which was a group of actors who acted out Shakespeare’s plays.
Today I went to the globe ? to see one of William Shakespeare’s plays! In the morning, I put on that weird thingy that you put around your neck (which is meant to be the biggest fashion right now) and waited for a taxi (obviously pulled by horses). In the taxi, I discussed with my family where we would be sitting. My children kept complaining about how long it was taking when it only took two hours!(?) Once we had arrived (just in time(as usual)), we took our seats ? and ‘enjoyed’ the play. I was lucky enough to have bought a few kilos of rotten tomatoes! ? ➡️ ☹️ At home ? Everyone started to talk about how horribly horrific it was and at dinner ? my children began a food fight!
A great recount well done! Glad you are keeping up with the latest Tudor fashion, after all you would want to look your best going to the theatre! A shame you did not enjoy the play, I hope the food fight didn’t take too long to clear up!
Dear Diary
One day I went to the theatre on a massive fairy. I was going to see one of Shakespeare’s play’s. The theatre was so gigantic it could fit thousands of people that sat in sections as mine or some people that stood in the pits. The theatre was made out of dark oak wood with no light except daylight. The theatre had amazing actors and they said their lines very clearly that everyone could hear them except for the people in the pits that didn’t like them. They throw lots of food at them.
Lots of detail well done Ajay! A shame the people in the pits threw lots of food… those poor actors!
A. Dear Diary,
Today I saw the most exquisite show I’ve ever seen! I saw Romeo and Juliet. I got here on a 4 hour ride from the countryside to London in a horse and carriage. I had the best view! It was £5, but that gave me the best seat on the house! I had the most wonderful experience I have ever had and I am certain his style won’t go out for centuries! The only disadvantage was that it was about 6 hours and my bottom started to get a bit sore.
B. Deer Diry,
I saw a play that was such a useless thing! I mean, boys dressed up in frilly dresses and make up with the most embarrassing lines like “Do you love me?”. That is the type of job for a female, even me husband thinks it’s wrong! And yet we live in a hut and haven’t had an education! Lucky I had some spare mouldy roast tomato to throw! We even had to walk all the way to London! I can’t believe we had to stand in a pit to watch a 6 hour nonsense called ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Can you imagine that I heard some rich lady complaining that her bottom was sore from sitting! I’d like to see ‘er standing for six bleedin’ hours! I wouldn’t have complained to ‘ave me bum on something’!
Can you guess which one is the rich or poor⁉
Hi Miss Lee ?
?——————————————————-?
I am sorry if I have sent this blog to you more than once although we have seen that it has not yet made it on to the website.
From Lucy ?
P.S. I have purposefully misspelled some of these words.
These were very enjoyable to read! Well done!
A – I am so glad you enjoyed your trip to the theatre, although a 4 hour ride in a horse and carriage there and back plus sitting for a 6 hour show does sound a little uncomfortable!
B – I am so sorry that you did not enjoy your trip to the theatre! Standing for that long sounds awful! I can’t believe someone with a seat was complaining!
Dear Diary,
Today, I was soo excited to go to the Global theatre. Actually to be honest with you, it’s my first time. I travelled to the global theatre with my family in a car. I then proceeded to buy the most expensive seats. I hope it’s worth it! When I went in It was so huge! When I stopped to sit down at my seat, it was the best experience ever! I could clearly see the stage and mostly everyone ?. Then, the show started. I was so excited! At the middle of the show, people were throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes everywhere! Luckly I was not so close to the pit. I watched the actors getting covered with rotten eggs, tomatoes and lots more. Poor them! When the show ended, I was alittle sad since it was so good! I will definitely come another day ?.
A great recount Clare, well done! Very descriptive! Those poor actors!
Hello Miss Lee,
Dear Diary,
Today was the best day of my life! I woke up and did my normal jobs and then I travelled by ferry to the global theatre. It was rather a wet and rainy day so when I arrived at the theatre, it was quieter than usual.
I paid for my ticket and then I sat down in my seat. As I was waiting for the play to begin, more and more people started to come into the theatre. I was a little bit anxious about the position of my seat as I was extremely high up!
When the play began, the crowd started to settle down. I was very excited to see the performance. About half way through, the crowd started cheering however some people were booing and started to throw rotten vegetables on to the stage!
By the time the play finished I started yawning. The sky grew darker and darker and candles started to illuminate the dark. I made my way home and tucked myself into bed. What a lovely day it was.
Hello Mayowa!
A wonderful recount with lots of detail well done! I am glad you had a lovely day at the theatre! Remember, they couldn’t have candles there because the theatre was made of wood! Which is why the plays was always during the day time so that the stage was visible on the light of day.
Dear Diary,
Today was excellent.
I saw one of Shakespears’ plays today and it was spectacular!
I came in by ferry and sat very high up so I could see everything.
Although I enjoyed the play… most others didn’t 🙁
I would go back to the theatre (don’t think the actors would though.
Rafa
Hello Rafael!
I am glad you had a lovely day at the theatre and enjoyed the play! Those poor actors! Hopefully they do go back so that you can watch another play!
Hello Miss Lee I have chosen to write mine in a diary entry form –
Dear diary,
As I entered the globe theatre I felt the excitement of the crowd around me. It wasn’t like any other theatre i’ve been to, the red velvet seats were as soft as can be. The crowd screamed and shouted all waiting for the play to begin! The long, grand pillars surrounded the seats it felt as if we were in the queen’s palace.
The play was so good I wanted to watch it over and over again it felt like a dream come true, if I ever got chance to visit the globe theatre again I would definitely do so!
This was no doubt the best experience of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!