» English KS3: Shakespeare's Times and Theatre

LESSONS

SECTION ONE

• 7 BEFORE PERMANENT THEATRES Students consider how the need for theatres first came about.
• 9 THE THEATRE Students learn about the development of theatre in England, and the benefits this provided for actors.
• 11 SHAKESPEARE ARRIVES IN LONDON Students will understand that Shakespeare was an ordinary person with dreams and ambitions, before he became a literary icon.
• 13 QUILL, INK AND PARCHMENT Students come to understand some of the practical difficulties in Shakespeare's times by trying out traditional pen and ink techniques.
• 15 HOBBIES AND SPORTS Students will appreciate that people in the past did have some spare time during which they pursued various sports and hobbies.
• 17 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT Students investigate how people travelled around in a world without cars, bikes or aeroplanes.
• 19 FOOD, DRINK, CUSHIONS AND NUTS Students find out about refreshments and seating in Elizabethan theatres, and how these differ from today.

SECTION TWO

• 21 THE OUTSIDE OF THE THEATRE Students discover that theatres in Shakespeare's time had very basic facilities - and no toilets!
• 23 THE INSIDE OF THE THEATRE Students will appreciate how it feels for an actor to go on stage in front of 2,000 people.
• 25 THE STAGE Students will get a good idea of what it was like in the Pit of the Globe Theatre.
• 27 BACKSTAGE AND THE TIRING HOUSE Students learn about the part of the theatre that the audience doesn't see, and appreciate its contribution.
• 29 A THEATRE MUSICIAN IN THE GALLERY Students learn about theatre musicians and their contribution to the performance.
• 31 A CRAFTSMAN MAKES A PROP Students learn how the theatre provided employment for local tradesmen.
• 33 FLYING THE FLAG Students learn how information can be conveyed non-verbally.

SECTION THREE

• 35 TOM STUBBS JOINS THE GLOBE Students learn about actors and their training.
• 37 TOM'S FIRST ROLE Students consider the problems faced by actors in cross gender roles.
• 39 PLAYING A FEMALE ROLE Students learn how complicated women's costumes were in the 16th century, and have a chance to experiment with make-up.
• 41 TOM'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY VISIT THE THEATRE Students consider how Tom might feel about his life as an actor.
• 43 AN ACTOR'S DAY Students learn that actors were not entirely confined to performing within the theatre.
• 45 AUDIENCE REACTION Students discover the ways that popular and unpopular actors were treated differently.
• 47 LETTER HOME Students learn more about what Tom's life was like when he wasn't on stage.

SECTION FOUR

• 49 MEN'S COSTUMES Students learn about male clothing in the 16th century.
• 51 DESIGN A MAN'S COSTUME Students learn how social class was conveyed through male dress.
• 53 WOMEN'S COSTUMES Students learn about female clothing in the 16th century.
• 55 DESIGN A WOMAN'S COSTUME Students learn how social class was conveyed through female dress.
• 57 HATS, WIGS AND CLOAKS Students design costumes for some of Shakespeare's characters.
• 59 HOW DO WE BRING MOONSHINE? Students learn how some special effects were created in Shakespeare's theatre.
• 61 TRAPDOORS AND WINCHES Students learn which features of the theatre could be used for special effects.

• 62 APPENDIX Figure outlines (for use with pages 49, 51, 53 and 55).