Jacobean Theatre in Context
Art and sculpture in the Jacobean Era followed most of the traditions in place during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Literature of the period has several important components
-continued writings of William Shakespeare
-dramatic writing by the likes of John Webster that explored questions of evil
-satire represented by the works of Beaumont & Fletcher
-extravagant courtly entertainment known as masques, seen in the work of Ben Johnson
-complex and intellectual poetry represented by the work of John Donne
-the creation of the King James Bible
Inigo Jones
WHAT DID CHANGE?
In spite of the many continuing trends, the Jacobean Era did see evolutions in two important categories--design and architecture. Sparked by the work of Inigo Jones, the visual aesthetic both in the theatre and on the street began to evolve.
WHY DOES THAT MATTER?
Changing visuals impact how we interact with the world around us, and shape our perceptions and sense of balance. A play like Doctor Faustus, filled with magic and demons, could play quite differently to audiences now keenly aware of how it looked as well as how it sounded. And since Marlowe never lived to see his play on the stage during this time, intentional or unintentional adjustments may impact the story in ways he could not predict.
Inigo Jones
Inigo Jones was a theatrical designer and architect. He made important contributions to both of those worlds. Jones was the first to introduce the proscenium arch, the idea of perspective design, and changing visuals onstage both by setting individual scenes in specific parts of the stage and using revolving periaktoi to vary the look onstage in a simple but effective manner.
After a trip to Italy, Jones found that his passion lay in architecture, and he was heavily influenced by what he saw during his travels—particularly the work of Andrea Palladio. He brought Palladio’s aesthetic back to England and launched what would be called the English Classical style.
As the court designer to King James I and his son King Charles I, his work can be seen in the Queen’s House for James’s wife Anne, the Banqueting House in Central London, and the Covent Garden Square.
From “Behind the Proscenium Wall” by Odile Compagnon
Jones continued to design sceneries for the Court’s Masques, working mostly with the poet Ben Jonson, whose writing contained much political subtext and satire. It is through a well-documented quarrel between Jonson and Jones that we can best understand the architect’s position on design and the meaning of the statement he wrote in his “Italian Sketchbook.” As his partnership with Jonson progressed, the two had constant arguments over what constituted the soul and what constituted the skin of the Masque. Jonson insisted that the poetry should reside solely in the text, while Jones argued that his own craft, sceneries, and costumes were just as instrumental in providing spirit to the entertainment.
( Royal Museums Greenwich) Palladian architecture is famous for its stately symmetry, classical elements, and grand appearance. Columns and pillars, such as Corinthian columns, are often seen supporting open structures or porticos. Symmetry is an important feature of this style, with each half of a building mirroring the other. Windows are placed in a perfectly symmetrical style, creating order. Domed ceilings and windows grace these buildings as a nod to ancient Roman and Grecian temples. Everything is placed in a mathematical arrangement.
The overall air of Palladian architecture captures a stately, grand, and austere feeling. Whether it be on large, governmental buildings or smaller housing, Palladian elements bring a sense of ancient strength and refinement. Though the outside architecture captures the clean, symmetrical, and austere aesthetics of ancient buildings, the inside of Palladian structures is often adorned in lavish, regal décor.
The Banqueting House (architecture by Jones)
An example of Jones's scenic design
The King James Bible
THE KING JAMES BIBLE was published in 1611. Over forty scholars spent nearly a decade on the project, creating a new translation of the original Greek and Hebrew texts. The goal was to create a book that could be understood by religious scholars and ordinary citizens alike, with names and terms in the language of the day.
Beyond popular accessibility, the project had specific political aims. This new version would put to rest the split usage and ill feelings toward the two most common editions (the Bishops Bible and the Geneva Bible), and also quell concerns of the Calvinists and the Puritans that King James would try to move the Church of England back toward Catholicism.
Please enjoy this article if you want more information on the creation process and the significance of the work.
Secular Matters Impacting the Theatre
The beginning of the formal unification of England and Scotland into what would be known as Great Britain.
1605- Gunpowder Plot- a failed attempt to create havoc in the government and ultimately reinstall the Catholic Church in England. The failure led to increased persecution of Catholics in the country, which strengthened the hold of the Protestant leanings of the Church of England.
1606- Act to Restrain the Abuses of Players- forbid the use of profanity onstage and uttering God, Jesus, or any part of the Holy Trinity in an irreverent or disrespectful manner. Play texts with such dialogue had to be changed to be performed
Severe financial crisis, coupled with the Bubonic Plague, impacted all aspects of daily life
Francis Bacon, Johannes Kepler (Germany) and Galileo Galilei (Italy) began what we know of as modern science and sparked developments in navigation, cartography, and surveying. This changed how and how much of the world could be seen and understood, and introduced deductive reasoning and the scientific method.