Shakespeare and Early Modern Theatre History: An Introduction to Playhouses and Performance

What material conditions were Shakespeare's plays performed in? How were they staged and what did they look like? Early Modern Theatre History answers these questions across more than 30 sub-topics covering playhouses, theatre companies, audiences, food, costumes, stage, and touring. The perfect addition to the playtexts, this short, accessible guide explains these topics in clear, non-technical terms for students and scholars alike. Illustrations provide a visual history to theatres in the early modern period alongside the latest archival and archaeological discoveries about playhouse architecture, company organization and performance practice.