Most of the poorer audience members, referred to as groundlings, would pay one penny (which was almost an entire day’s wage) to stand in front of the stage, while the richer patrons would sit in the covered galleries, paying as much as half a crown each for their seats.
What jobs did groundlings have?
Groundlings and Shakespeare A penny was about a days work for the Groundlings who were typically blacksmiths and farmers. Groundlings liked Shakespeare’s plays because included “bawdy humor” to specifically amuse the Groundlings.
What did groundlings do to show that they were not enjoying the play?
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.
What are groundlings in the Globe Theatre?
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). They joined in on the action occurring on stage, interrupted the actors, and even sometimes got on the stage.
At what age may a boy and girl marry and at what age is marriage for non noble families common?
A boy may marry at age 14 and girls at 12, however it was recommended that boys not marry until they were 22 and girls not until they were 18. In a non-noble family it is common to marry at age 25-26 for men and 23 for women.
How did Shakespeare keep the Groundlings entertained?
‘ This is the one and only time that the word ‘groundlings’ appears in Shakespeare’s works. The groundlings had to be entertained throughout so the playwrights had to tread a fine line, making sure that they didn’t get bored. People brought their lunch with them and ate it during the performance.
What food did groundlings eat?
The groundlings were very close to the action on stage. They could buy food and drink during the performance – pippins (apples), oranges, nuts, gingerbread and ale. But there were no toilets and the floor they stood on was probably just sand, ash or covered in nutshells.
What did people do if they didn’t like a play?
If they didn’t like the play, the audience threw them at the actors! This is where our idea of throwing tomatoes comes from – but ‘love-apples’, as they were known, come from South America and they weren’t a common food at the time.
