Video summary
Ricky and Leah visit Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe, the reconstruction in London of the theatre Shakespeare himself helped to pay for when it was built in 1599.
They learn that, just like today, Elizabethan audiences wanted to be amazed by special effects and that ghosts and devils could appear from trapdoors hidden in the stage; or Titania, Queen of the Fairies, could descend magically from another door in the stage鈥檚 ceiling.
They also find out about Shakespeare鈥檚 audience 鈥 from the groundlings or penny stinkards who had to stand in the area called the pit, to the rich who could sit in special decorated boxes.
We also find out that women didn鈥檛 act in Shakespeare鈥檚 time and that all the women鈥檚 parts had to be played by men 鈥 to find out how, Ricky is transformed into a Tudor woman!
Contributors include Michael Rosen, Farah Karim-Copper, Callum Coates and Patrick Spottiswoode.
This clip is from the series i.am.Will Shakespeare.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could investigate what popular pastimes there were for adults and children during the Tudor period, how does this compare to the pastimes of today.
They could choose one to have a go at.
As suggested in the clip pupils could design a theatre from Shakespeare's time and devise special effects that would excite audiences.
This clip will be relevant for teaching English at KS2 in England and Wales, KS1/KS2 in Northern Ireland and 2nd Level in Scotland.
Who was William Shakespeare? video
Newsround presenters Leah and Ricky Boleto visit Shakespeare's birth place Stratford-upon-Avon and go to London to see scenes from his plays at Shakespeare's Globe.
Introducing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' video
Find out more about the magical world of 'A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream', a fast and funny play set in a enchanted place where the worlds of fairies and humans collide.
Introducing 'Romeo and Juliet' video
Find out more about Shakespeare's tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', the story of young star-crossed lovers who risk everything to be together and are doomed to die.
Shakespeare's World. video
Find out more about Shakespeare's world with Leah and Ricky from Newsround.
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