Shakespeare's Globe Original Practices Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of 'Original Practices' at Shakespeare's Globe?

Modern script writing

Film adaptations of Shakespeare's works

Historical performance and early modern playing conditions (correct)

Contemporary theatre styles

The audience in Shakespeare's Globe is kept in darkness during performances.

False

Who was the Artistic Director during the original practices experiment at the Globe?

Mark Rylance

The make-up used in the 'Original Practices' production attempted to simulate the aesthetic of the ________ period.

Renaissance Signup and view all the answers

Match the elements of 'Original Practices' with their descriptions:

Actor and Audience relationship = Creates an intimate performance experience Make-up = Used white pigment mixed with chalk and almond oil Music of the Spheres = Utilized Early Modern music creatively Exploratory nature = Some investigations were successful, some were not Signup and view all the answers

What cosmetic was used to represent early modern blusher in the production of Twelfth Night?

Crushed up pink children’s chalk Signup and view all the answers

'Original Practices' resulted in a singular and uni-dimensional form of theatre.

False Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main contributions of Musical Director Claire van Kampen?

Developing new ways of using Early Modern music in theatre Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial instrumentation used for the Ghost's entrance in Hamlet?

Vibraphone and rotobell Signup and view all the answers

In early modern performances, elaborate sets were prioritized over costumes.

False Signup and view all the answers

Who was in charge of the wardrobe and design of the productions?

Jenny Tiramani Signup and view all the answers

In Shakespeare’s time, all cast members were __________, with female characters played by boys.

male Signup and view all the answers

Which principle did Mark Rylance want the clothing to reflect?

The integrity of the reconstructed Globe Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of early modern performances to their descriptions:

Clothing = Affected actors' posture and breathing Musical choices = Experimented with underscore effects Casts = All-male performers for female roles Tiring House = Open for audience to see actors preparing Signup and view all the answers

All-female casts were common in Shakespeare's plays.

False Signup and view all the answers

What was the response of the audience when the underscore was introduced for the Ghost's entrance?

They responded in a dramatically different and hushed manner. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Original Practices at Shakespeare's Globe

Project undertaken as part of the 2020 #MuseumFromHome Day
Victoria Lane examined the Globe's Archive and Collections
Focused on the "Original Practices" experiment
Aimed at recreating Shakespearean performance methods
Included a unique and radical approach to modern theatre practice
Utilized historic performance to transform modern theatre
Reconstructed a Shakespearean amphitheater
Intended to provide ideal testing conditions for early modern playing
Developed through a partnership between researchers and creative practitioners
Happened during Mark Rylance's Artistic Directorship (1995-2005)

Actor and Audience Relationship

Biggest success was discovering a new relationship between actors and audience
Unique interaction, unlike conventional theatres
Audience members directly interacted with actors
Led to an intimate experience where the audience became a vital component of the performance

Make-up

Cosmetics aimed to replicate the aesthetic of Shakespeare's time
Studied English Renaissance portraits for inspiration
Found authentic ingredients for white face paint difficult to source
Modern equivalents using white pigment, chalk, and almond oil developed
Mark Rylance's Olivia's white mask cosmetics researched, in comparison with Elizabeth I's portraits
Simple blusher solution identified, using crushed pink children's chalk

Music of the Spheres

Claire van Kampen, the Musical Director, significantly influenced the productions' sound
Integrated Early Modern music into a dynamic theatrical experience
Music became an active component of the performance
Musicians often present on stage, merging with the play
Strategically positioned in the Musicians Gallery to emphasize the "Music of the Spheres"
Used period instruments, without electronic amplification
Developed unique approaches, such as incorporating vibraphone and rotobell for the ghost's entrance

Clothing

Jenny Tiramani designed and managed the wardrobe designs
Focused on the clothing of the characters for authenticity
Research involved understanding and replicating Elizabethan and Jacobean clothing details
Actors' clothing crafted from period-specific materials and techniques
Costumes included a smock, progressing through gowns and doublets
Designed to influence posture, breathing, and the overall stage dynamic
Productions included audience viewing of the actor's preparation

All-Male and All-Female Casts

Traditionally, female roles were performed by boys in Shakespeare's time
Women weren't permitted on stage until the Restoration
Some productions reversed this, showcasing all-female casts in a modern context
Re-evaluation of the role of actors in portraying the female characters
Mark Rylance famously played female roles(Olivia in Twelfth Night, 2002 and Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, 1999)

Masters?

Included a brief discussion on the process of naming the creative team
Creative team members didn't have the same titles in Shakespeare's era
New titles, such as the equivalent of a "Master of Plays" were implemented in program notes.
Involved significant consideration of the roles of women within the creative team
Claire van Kampen and Jenny Tiramani were given creative titles, such as "Master of Music" and "Master of Properties and Clothing"

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Description

Explore the innovative 'Original Practices' project at Shakespeare's Globe. This quiz delves into efforts to recreate Shakespearean performances, focusing on actor-audience interaction and historical authenticity. Discover how these practices have transformed modern theatre through unique reconstruction techniques.