Where Did The Poor Stand At The Theatre?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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They were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre. If they paid one penny (equivalent to £1 in 2019), they could stand

in “the pit”, also called “the yard”, just below the stage

, to watch the play. Standing in the pit was uncomfortable, and people were usually packed in tightly.

Where did the poor stand during the Elizabethan theatre?

At the theatre, the rich could sit in the best seats, with cushions, and the poor could stand

in front of the stage for a penny

.

Where did the poorer patrons watch the performances?

The groundlings paid a penny to

stand in “The Pit”, also called “The Yard”

, just below the stage and watch the play. Standing in the pit was uncomfortable, and most times people were packed like sardines, keeping each other standing. Also, they were exposed to the elements, as the theatre itself was not covered.

Where were the cheap seats in the Globe Theater?


The Pit, or yard

, was the area located around the stage. There was no seating – the cheapest part of the Globe Theater and the audience had to stand. The stage structure projected halfway into the ‘ yard ‘ where the commoners (groundlings) paid 1 penny to stand to watch the play.

Where did the poorest audience members sit?

A seat in the gallery on the first or second floor cost two or three pennies, and for a penny more you could have a cushion. Even poor people could afford to go to

the theatre

– a standing ticket in front of the stage cost just one penny. People who stood were called ‘groundlings’.

How much did it cost to enter the globe Theatre?

Admission to the indoor theatres started at

6 pence

. One penny was only the price of a loaf of bread. Compare that to today’s prices. The low cost was one reason the theatre was so popular.

Who was Shakespeare’s audience?

Shakespeare’s audience was

the very rich, the upper middle class, and the lower middle class

. All of these people would seek entertainment just as we do today, and they could afford to spend money going to the theater.

What was the cost of standing room at the Globe?

What was the cost of standing room at the Globe? The cheapest seats were not seats at all, but standing admission, which would have cost

one penny

, or two pennies for use of a bench.

How does Shakespeare continue to influence the theater world today?

Theater, in particular, has experienced many changes due to his influence. For example, the way in which Shakespeare’s plots move forward has helped define modern play-writing. … In addition, Shakespeare is also credited as having

invented genres

that mixed both tragedy and comedy.

What were the people called who paid a penny to stand in front of the stage to see Shakespeare?

Elizabethan general public or people who were not nobility were referred to as

groundlings

. They would pay one penny to stand in the Pit of the Globe Theater (Howard 75). The upper class spectators would pay to sit in the galleries often using cushions for comfort.

Which were the best seats in the Globe?

Best views are in the

seat closest to the stage

(practically on it, in the stalls first two seats) and the rest of the downstairs slips, or furthest away nearest the main seating in the circle slips.

What was the nickname of the Globe Theater?

Construction Closed 1642 Rebuilt 1614

What social divides existed inside the globe?

What social divides existed inside the globe? At the Globe Theatre there were three classes,

the upper, middle, and lower class

. The middle class was known as the commoners and they would sit in an area known as the galleries.

How were the seats arranged for the audience?

How were the seating arrangements for the audience? How did one get a good seat? The only way to get a good seat

was to be the first ones at the play

, if they were the first, they would be the first served. … The audience would pelt the actors with oranges or anything hand and they would hiss or shout.

How did Shakespeare engage his audience?

Shakespeare engages the audience by

bringing a lovesick Romeo onto the scene and his silliness over Rosaline

makes everyone giddy with laughter.

How did Shakespeare satisfy his audience?

Shakespeare

organized his plays and characters

so audiences could easily gather all the information they need about them and their circumstances. A perfect example is how his characters speak. Shakespeare gave audiences clues about who was who, and what was what. … He used his plays to comment on these events.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.