What were the theatres or ‘playhouses’ of Shakespeare’s time like and how were plays staged in them?

In Shakespeare's time there were two types of playhouses; indoor and outdoor. There were many differences between them. For instance indoor theatres were sometimes called "halls" or "private" houses. This gives off the connotation of upper class leisure; this meant that the two types of theatre venues attracted very different crowds. This would have meant your social standing would have affected what place you would go to in order to enjoy your theatre. The first playhouse to be built was called the Red Lion in 1957 by John Brayne. This set off a chain reaction resulting in many more playhouses being opened in the next couple of decades. Although playhouses were famous for putting on productions there was more entertainment showcased in these places. A few examples include bear-bating, cock fighting and community dances. The playhouses themselves consisted of a central yard; a raised staged; a roof over the stage known as the heavens; galleried seats situated all around the theatre where the nobles of the time would have sat. 

In relation to how plays were staged in them they had to be adaptable and capable of changing venues with each performance. Because there was such a high demand for good theatre that more often than not shows would tour to other play houses with slightly different configurations. This meant that plays would need to be able to adjust to the demands of a new space. This also meant that the directors of the time would most likely let the actors play around with improvisation in the productions. The plays would usually have been staged with extravagant costumes of the Elizabethan period. Most theatre companies would have invested in these costumes as this is what audiences would have expected when they came to the playhouses. Plays would have also been staged with minimal set. This meant the actors would have to rely on really using the language and using exaggerated gesture.

Who were the actors of Shakespeare’s plays and how did the experience of being an actor differ from the experience today?

The actors in Shakespeare's plays would have been male as acting was seen as profession only suitable for men and boys. This meant that the female parts would most likely have been represented by pre-pubescent boys who would have worn make-up and dresses. This meant that any form of "actor training" (there was no formal training system) in those days would start when you were young and was almost like an apprenticeship. The demands/expectations of an actor were quite high; singing, dancing, sword fighting and being able to learn lines really quickly were just a few qualities they were expected to posses. That shows how in that period of time actors were expected to be all round entertainers whereas nowadays and actor is expected to only hone specific areas of their craft. For example Judi Dench isn't expected to sword fighter, be a natural comedian while at the same time be a subtle nuanced performer. 

The Actors in Shakespeare's company consisted of players like Will Kempe, Henry Codell and Richard Burbage. These people would have been really close to each other, slept, travelled, ate and fought with each other. This means that Shakespeare would have most likely been specifically writing for their skill set and their personalities. For example "Dogberry" from Much ado about nothing was written for Will Kempe because he was very good at physical comedy. This would obviously create some very strong theatre as the actors were perfectly suited to the parts they would play.