Jacobean Theatre
JACOBEAN THEATRE
Jacobean theatre refers to the sub-classification of English Renaissance theatre during the reign of King James I (1603-1625). It is a dark and disturbing literary form, spiritually gloomy, grotesquely violent and often shockingly obscene.
History • This theatre style evolved from its preceding, more widely known predecessor called Elizabethan theatre. • Sexuality was very prevalent in Jacobean performances, along with a heightened sense of violence and general immoralities/perversities • As the economy declined, so did the delicacy of theatre – there was a “tendency to blame the audience for a decay of taste”. (Brown, 194) • Performances moved from outdoor to indoor, because of the changeable weather • Boys’ theaters made a comeback • This is one of the roots of burlesque – back when burlesque still meant grotesque humour and not a classic type of strip teasing o Pipe-smoking, beer-drinking, entr’acte dancing, music, and tumbling accompanied the performances o The play was a prelude to further past time (kind of like a pre-drinking)
Style
• There are two main types of Jacobean theatre: o Revenge Plays o Tragicomedies Revenge Plays • Revenge plays were very obscene and violent • The main character was called the Revenger o It is a hero avenging an unfair or cruel death – they are fueled by hatred and vindication Tragicomedies • Tragicomedies tend to fall under the grotesque side – it has dark humour and are very sexual in nature
Important Plays and Playwrights • The two most produced Jacobean revenge plays are John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and The White Devil • Other revenge plays include: o Ben Jonson – Every Man Has His Humour, & The Poetaster o Thomas Dekker – Lust 's Dominion, The Witch of Edmonton, & The Virgin Martyr o William Shakespeare – Othello, Macbeth, King Lear (and
Jacobean theatre refers to the sub-classification of English Renaissance theatre during the reign of King James I (1603-1625). It is a dark and disturbing literary form, spiritually gloomy, grotesquely violent and often shockingly obscene.
History • This theatre style evolved from its preceding, more widely known predecessor called Elizabethan theatre. • Sexuality was very prevalent in Jacobean performances, along with a heightened sense of violence and general immoralities/perversities • As the economy declined, so did the delicacy of theatre – there was a “tendency to blame the audience for a decay of taste”. (Brown, 194) • Performances moved from outdoor to indoor, because of the changeable weather • Boys’ theaters made a comeback • This is one of the roots of burlesque – back when burlesque still meant grotesque humour and not a classic type of strip teasing o Pipe-smoking, beer-drinking, entr’acte dancing, music, and tumbling accompanied the performances o The play was a prelude to further past time (kind of like a pre-drinking)
Style
• There are two main types of Jacobean theatre: o Revenge Plays o Tragicomedies Revenge Plays • Revenge plays were very obscene and violent • The main character was called the Revenger o It is a hero avenging an unfair or cruel death – they are fueled by hatred and vindication Tragicomedies • Tragicomedies tend to fall under the grotesque side – it has dark humour and are very sexual in nature
Important Plays and Playwrights • The two most produced Jacobean revenge plays are John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and The White Devil • Other revenge plays include: o Ben Jonson – Every Man Has His Humour, & The Poetaster o Thomas Dekker – Lust 's Dominion, The Witch of Edmonton, & The Virgin Martyr o William Shakespeare – Othello, Macbeth, King Lear (and
Cited: "Jacobean Theatre." London, England: Edward Arnold, 1960. Print. Johnson , Christopher. "The Duchess of Malfi." Jacobean Drama . Sydney Theatre Company , n.d. Web. 28 Sep 2010. . Kay , Karen. "Study Tools." Elizabethan and Jacobean Revenge Tragedy. BritainInPrint, n.d. Web. 28 Sep 2010. .