Theatre Archaeology and the Shakespearean stage

Summary

In recent years, archaeology has greatly influenced our understanding of the Shakespearean stage, thorough its excavation of the Rose and the Globe theatres, and in summer 2013, the Curtain. However, although such excavations have shed important light on the architecture, performance space and visitor experiences in these buildings, current experiments in past performance practice are restricted to models derived from these purpose-built theatre spaces. This paper present the results of an innovative and interdisciplinary project based in the Departments of Archaeology and Theatre, Film and Television in York. The project sought to record and reconstruct the performance spaces of pre-theatre buildings such as the Guildhall, Stratford-upon-Avon, where companies such as the Queen’s Men rehearsed and performed plays before civic audiences. The project involved the detailed analysis not only of buildings, but also documentary sources and play texts and culminated in a performance of ‘The Troublesome Reign of King John’.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Current Postgraduate Research In Post-Medieval Archaeology In The UK: A Society For Post-Medieval Archaeology Sponsored Session   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 558