Hamlet: theatrical conventions of the period

Overview of Elizabethan Theatrical Conventions

Elizabethan theatre was the first form of professional theatre in England, marking a significant shift from church and clerical drama.
The conventions of the period are marked by their practicality and simplicity. Costumes, props, and sets were minimalistic, relying on audience imagination.
A typical Elizabethan theatre was a multi-sided open-air playhouse where natural light played a significant role in the staging of plays.

Space and Staging

Hamlet would have originally been performed on a “thrust stage”. This type of stage extends into the audience, allowing for a more immersive and intimate experience.
The Globe Theatre’s stage had two doors for entrances and exits, a balcony used for scenes requiring a higher level, and a ‘trap’ for ghost and grave scenes.
Stage directions were often embedded within the dialogue and gave the actors guidance on how to move, behave, or even what emotions to feel. For instance, “Exit” would indicate that an actor should leave the stage.

Language

Elizabethan theatre heavily relied on eloquent language and poetic devices to create atmosphere, convey emotions, and express complex thoughts as the use of sets and props were minimal. In Hamlet, soliloquies play a crucial part in revealing the protagonist’s innermost emotions and thoughts.
The complex layering of rhyme, rhythm, and meter found in much of the dialogue in Hamlet reflects the high value Elizabethan audiences placed on language.
Puns and wordplay were commonly utilised to add humour, reveal character, or disclose additional meanings. Shakespeare uses this convention effectively throughout Hamlet.

Actors and Characters

The all-male cast was a distinctive feature of Elizabethan theatre. Young boys played female roles due to social norms forbidding women from performing.
Physical gesturing was a significant aspect of Elizabethan acting due to the absence of elaborate stage design or special effects. Gestures were used to accompany dialogue and express emotions.
The use of asides allowed characters to speak directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall, and giving the audience special insight into a character’s intentions or thoughts. Hamlet frequently makes use of asides to provide commentary and express his thoughts.

Audience Engagement

Audience interaction was an integral part of Elizabethan theatre as the spectators were close to the action and could react and interact with the actors.
Elizabethan theatre saw a diverse socio-economic makeup of audiences, from the commoners in the pit to the nobles in the gallery. The range of themes in Hamlet – royal intrigue, love and romance, revenge, and supernatural elements – catered to this broad audience.

Understanding these conventions of Elizabethan theatre can enhance your comprehension of the original staging and performance practices of Hamlet, and help you appreciate how Shakespeare utilised these conventions for dramatic effect.