Shakespeare was writing for the masses of Elizabethan England, many of whom couldn’t read or write, a fact he would have been well aware of. The theater was usually the only place the audiences to his plays would be exposed to high culture.
Theater Etiquette in Shakespeare’s Time
Visiting a theater and watching a play was very different not just because of who was in the audience, but because of the expectations of how people would behave. Theatergoers were not expected to be still and silent throughout the performance like modern audiences are. Rather, it was the modern equivalent of going to see a popular band, communal and at times raucous, depending on the subject matter of a given performance.
The audience would eat, drink and talk throughout the performance, and theaters were open air and used natural light. Most plays were performed not in the evening as they are now, but rather in the afternoon or during the daylight. Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/theater-experience-in-shakespeares-lifetime-2985243
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The Globe Theatre also known as the Shakespeare Globe Theatre was not only one of most famous playhouse’s of all time, but the play house where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays. Built from oak, deal, and stolen playhouse frames, the 3 storey, 3000 capacity Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare has become almost as famous as the playwright himself. Read more...