SH+P5+The+King’s+Men

1. 2. Audience

3. By: Connor Griffin

4. The audience of the The King's Men was, in a sense, everyone who watched the plays. Due to the King's Men diversity in sets of plays, it appealed to most audiences around England. Whether it was appealing to the lower class by having issues that represented them, or the upper class by having issues that appealed to them. Mostly, however, the audience that they wanted to appeal to the most was higher classed audiences, and kings and queens. Similar to the audience that Shakespeare was appealing to. Due to the fact that higher class had money, it was easier to please them and get more benefits than please the lower class "Elizabethan London saw what was really the first appearance of an entertainment sector in England. Though at the beginning of the period plays were not found outside the courtyards of inns, by the end of the period several playhouses had been built around London" (Bowles 2). This explains how the King's Men would rather appeal to the higher class; a higher success and benefit rate. As soon as the higher class would realize that the plays were something they enjoy, they essentially hauled money to the King's Men to create more theaters and playhouses just for them to perform in. So, while they did seem to appeal to all audiences, they attempted to appeal mostly to the higher class.

5. Mabillard, Amanda. "Shakespeare and the King's Men Acting Troupe." //Shakespeare and the King's Men Acting Troupe //. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/faq/kingsmen.html

Mabillard, Amanda. "The King's Man - Shakespeare and the Royal Patent of King James the First." //The King's Man - Shakespeare and the Royal Patent of King James the First //. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. .

Bowles, Samuel. Shakespeare's Elizabethan Audience. Usi. 19 October 2012. // [] //



2) The King’s Men 3) Jillian Nash 4) Cultural Shakespeare’s writings and have made huge cultural impacts in several ways. The playing company Shakespeare was involved in, known as the King’s Men, became officially the King’s Men in 1603 and ran until 1642 when theatres were closed down (“King’s Men” Wikipedia). Having run for so long, the company was bound to make an impact on people, such as aspiring actors. Not only did the theatre cater to future actors, but acting in the plays also helped aspiring playwrights. One specific result of the playing company was Shakespeare’s inspiration for plays because it is said that, “ Shakespeare based many of his plays on the work of other playwright s and recycled older stories and historical material ” (“Shakespeare’s Plays” Wikipedia). Obviously many plays and stories are based off of or have some elements of Shakespeare’s various plays, so by acting in the theatre, Shakespeare gained many ideas for his plays, which in turn would inspire and become the basis of many plays for generations to come. If it had not been for the company, Shakespeare may not have been as inspired or may not have obtained as many ideas as he needed for his plays. This is turn would result in many plays, movies, etc. one may see today not as inspired or based off of Shakespeare’s plays and maybe his plays would not be taught in schools as a way of teaching certain elements of literature.

"King's Men." //Wikipedia.// Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 6 November 2012. Web. 15 November 2012. "Shakespeare's Plays." //Wikipedia.// Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 14 November 2012. Web. 15 November 2012.

The King's Men

Efren Barron

The King's Men was a group of actors, play directors, and play writers that would put on plays for the king at the time and for the public. William Shakespeare was the man that really put The King's Men out there and that's why their popularity grew so much. For the time period they were in there wasn't many things to do for entertainment, so plays were becoming a big industry. For centuries people had put shows on for the viewing public but there was something about this acting group that really separated them from the rest. William Shakespeare, a master mind when it can to writing plays. Shakespeare would write two plays a year, and writing a play is no easy job. This acting group really affected there time period with bringing humor and tragedies to the stage. It really gave the public more of a sense of the arts and educate them in the importance of it. Although traveling around was not a big thing for the group it would happen in occasion. In the article "Who Were the King's Men" it says, "By 1608 the King's Men had a permanent winter home at the Blackfiar's Theatre and they played to a mostly rich and educated audience" ("Who" 1). Not moving around much the group also during the summers played at the Globe theatre. The King's Men really impacted the society around them and really made an impact that can still be felt today.

"Who were The King’s Men?" Shakespeare Online. n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.

"King's Man (playing company)." Wikipedia. Nov. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012