The first permanent playhouses were built in London in the 16th century, including the Curtain in 1577 and the Globe in 1599. These playhouses were round or octagonal in shape, about 12 meters high with a diameter of 25 meters. The stage projected into the center area, surrounded by three tiers of galleries. There was no curtain, and plays were performed in daylight with minimal props relying on the audience's imagination. Actors changed costumes in the tiring house at the rear of the stage.

1. The structure of
theatres

2. During the 16th century, the first
permanent playhouses were built
in London
which were the first playhouses to
be built, in 1576, followed by the
Curtain in 1577, the Swan in 1595
and the Globe in 1599.

3. These playhouses were round or
octagonal in shape, twelve meters
high and with a diameter of twenty-
five meters.
The rectangular stage was twelve
meters wide. Such a restricted space
did not allow more than twelve
actors to appear on the stage at a
time.

5. The stage had no curtain; it was
supported by two pillars and
was roofed over to protect the
actors and their costumes. It
projected into an uncovered
central area, called "the pit",
surrounded by three roofed tiers
of galleries. The gallery above
the stage could be used either
by the audience or by the
musicians, or as an additional
part of the stage for scenes such
as "the balcony scene" in Romeo
and Juliet.

7. There was a trap door, used for devilish apparitions, disappearances
and also for burials. A balcony crowned by a gable on the upper
floor housed the stage machinery. It was from there that gods and
goddesses and other special effects descended onto the stage.
During a performance a flag with the emblem of the theatre flew
above the roof.
the actors' tiring house, that is to say , the place where the actors
changed their attire, was at the rear of the stage. There were two
doors for entrances and exits.
there was no scenery , and plays were acted in daylight.
Performances required a limited number of props: tables , chairs,
swords , canvases of the sun and moon, and also a tree of golden
apples and a series of dragons. For night scenes a simple candle or
torch symbolically transported the audience into the night world.
Thus the theatre relied on the audience's imagination, and the text
was enough to bring the play to life.

9. The action was continuous. A scene ended when
all the actors had gone off the stage and a new set
of characters came on. There was thus a quick
continuity of performance , with no break in the
illusion.
The Elizabethan actor was a busy man, constantly
rehearsing new plays. He had little time for long
and elaborate preparations , but he belonged to a
team and the trained actor was ready to improvise
in an emergency.
In Shakespeare's time there were no female
actresses, the parts of young women were acted
by boys.