How were William Shakespeare's play described?

Answer 1

The phrase "Shakespeare's theatre" is ambiguous. Are you talking about the theatrical practises and conventions which applied at the time Shakespeare was writing or some theatre building?

If the former, you should know that theatre practice in Shakespeare's time involved casts who were entirely male, thrust stages, limited or no scenery, stage props which were portable or multi-use, staging which could involve several levels, actors who had to use natural projection, lighting by natural light or candlelight, and heightened language in dialogue.

If you are talking about an actual building, you should know that Shakespeare's contemporaries would not have understood you if you used the phrase "Shakespeare's Theatre" as opposed to "Burbage's Theatre". Burbage was the major shareholder and Shakespeare one of the minor shareholders in two theatres. First the Globe Theatre, maximum capacity about 3000, round in shape with an open space in the middle to let in light to illuminate the stage, and also the Blackfriars Theatre, capacity about 750, completely enclosed and lit by candlelight, so they had to have intermissions periodically to replace the candles. You might think that the Globe was the more profitable theatre but actually it wasn't since they were able to sell out the Blackfriars by selling fewer tickets at higher prices, and the Blackfriars did not have to close when the weather got too cold or stormy.

Answer 2

How are all of Shakespears described?