Упр.3 Unit 6 Reader ГДЗ English Кузовлев 10-11 класс

Theatre has been known since early times.

The first permanent theatre in London was built by a carpenter, James Burbage, who was also a part-time actor. Of his two sons, the younger, Richard, was the first leading English actor. He created the roles of Hamlet, Lear, Othello, and Richard III, while the elder, Cuthbert, acted as his brother’s manager. The building which the elder Burbage built in 1576 was known simply as “The Theatre”. It was built outside the city in Fincbury Fields. Soon a lot of other theatres appeared. They were the Curtain, the Rose, the Swan, the Globe, the Fortune and the Hope. None of them survived but the copy of the Swan. As in Greece, there were no women on the stage. Boys specially selected for their slight build and light voices were trained to play such parts as Juliet or Rosalind. All the actors had to be dancers and singers. As plays were valuable properties they were kept in manuscripts as long as possible. Even Shakespeare’s plays were not gathered together for publication until after his death. Many less known authors completely disappeared. After the age of Shakespeare the English theatre had no great success.

1. When did the first theatre appear in England?
2. Who built the first permanent theatre in London?
3. Who was the first leading actor in England? What roles did he play?
4. Who is the author of the plays in which Richard Burbage performed?
5. Who played women’s roles in the plays at that time?
6. How were the plays kept? Why?
7. Theatres of that time were quite different from modern theatres. Look at the picture and read the description of the Swan Theatre. What are the main features of an Elizabethan theatre?
   

   The picture is not very clear, but it does seem to show the main features of an Elizabethan unroofed public theatre. There was the raised platform-stage, with an open space for audience on three sides and round that two or three galleries with benches or stools. The tickets to the galleries were more expensive. Behind the platform-stage was a wall with doors. They led to the backstage. This wall held a gallery or musicians. Above it was a tower. From this tower a trumpet call announced the opening of the play and a flag was flown during the performance. The performance usually took place in the early afternoon.