PLAGUE AND THE PLAYHOUSE

INTRODUCTION

• 1564: Stratford upon avon's plague.
• Infant Shakespeare escaped; he was marked by it.
• No great plays about it.

ELIZABETH-JAMES

• 1603: Thomas Dekker's "The Wonderfull Yeare".
• 24th March Elizabeth died due to the plague.
• 25th July: James's succession: fears. His procession was cancelled (done in 1604).

PLAGUE

• 1603: plague again (1604: it waned), noted in the theatre; instructions.*
• Bills of morality listed deaths: 1 penny, published every week in large print-runs.
• Government worried; aristocracy could retreat.
• Bubonic plague.
• *James: plague orders: recipe book.

THE THEATRES

• Authorities closed them.
• Patron Earl of Southampton; senior member of the new Lord Chamberlain's men.
• Boomed.
• Remedy: not available.
• 1610 available.
• Traditional Christmas festivities: king's men acted, 103+30 pounds

CONCLUSION

• Globe theatre was opened again.
• Dekker: plague=actor represented the death.